MATTHEW LOWE FROM NEWTON AND SUDBURY FACES CHARGES IN COLCHESTER FOR CRUELTY TO POULTRY, PIGS, AND RABBITS

Matthew Lowe, a man with connections to Newton and Sudbury, was prosecuted for a series of serious animal neglect offences that took place on his smallholding located in Gantry Close, Colchester, with the postal code CO1 2ZP. The case, which garnered attention from local authorities and animal welfare groups, involved Lowe’s failure to properly care for a variety of farm animals, including poultry, pigs, and rabbits.

On December 19, 2017, Suffolk County Council’s Trading Standards officers, acting on a tip-off from a concerned neighbor, visited Lowe’s property situated off the Street in Assington, Suffolk. The inspection revealed a distressing scene: the animals on the premises were suffering from neglect and poor living conditions. The pigs and poultry were found without adequate food supplies, and their shelters were grossly insufficient to protect them from the elements. The piglets were kept in environments that were clearly unsuitable for their needs, and the sows appeared underweight, indicating malnutrition. Both pigs and poultry showed signs of parasitic infestations, further highlighting the neglect.

In addition to the issues with the larger animals, the inspectors discovered four rabbits in a state of severe ill health. Tragically, three of these rabbits had to be euthanized due to their critical conditions. One of the rabbits, a large white female, was found lying on her side inside an enclosure, suffering from breathing difficulties. Another rabbit, a brown one, was observed with swollen eyes and exhibited symptoms consistent with myxomatosis, a highly contagious disease. A second white rabbit was found with a badly injured back leg that had healed at an unnatural angle, impairing its ability to move properly. The fourth rabbit was unresponsive, with a sore approximately the size of a 50p coin on its back, indicating severe injury or infection.

Further inspection revealed disturbing signs of rodent infestation within the rabbit enclosures. Officers also discovered a rubbish bin containing four dead rabbit carcasses, raising concerns about the overall hygiene and animal welfare standards maintained on the property. The neglect was so severe that the authorities took steps to ensure the animals’ future well-being. Suffolk Trading Standards is now working with Lowe to facilitate the safe rehoming of the animals he previously owned.

As a result of the prosecution, Lowe received a sentence of eight weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities, perform 100 hours of unpaid community service, and pay costs amounting to £4,899 along with a victim surcharge of £115. Additionally, Lowe was disqualified from keeping any farmed animals for a period of five years, a ban that expired in October 2023. This case underscores the importance of animal welfare laws and the consequences of neglecting the needs of vulnerable animals.