MICHAEL HAWKSWELL FROM RIPON SENTENCED FOR ANIMAL ABUSE AND ILLEGAL SLAUGHTER IN YORKSHIRE

Michael Andrew Hawkswell, born around 1975 and residing at Haldgarth, Nunwick, Ripon HG4 5EE, has a long and disturbing history of animal cruelty and illegal slaughter activities in the Yorkshire region. His criminal record spans over two decades, marked by a series of serious offenses involving the mistreatment and illegal killing of animals, which have garnered significant attention from law enforcement and animal welfare organizations alike.

Hawkswell's first known conviction dates back to approximately 2001, when he was involved in abandoning a truckload of live turkeys on the A1 motorway. The birds were left to endure freezing temperatures, ultimately succumbing to the harsh conditions. Although reports indicate he was jailed for this act, specific details about the sentence remain unavailable.

Two years later, in February 2003, Hawkswell was imprisoned alongside Isap Lakha of 122 Saville Road, Dewsbury WF12 9LP, after authorities uncovered their operation of an illegal slaughterhouse amid the foot and mouth crisis. The investigation was initiated following a tip-off received by an undercover investigator from the Hillside Animal Sanctuary in East Anglia. Working in collaboration with the RSPCA, the sanctuary obtained covert footage that revealed Hawkswell and Lakha slaughtering ten goats in a dilapidated barn located in Londonderry, North Yorkshire. The footage depicted the animals suffering immensely as they were killed with a blunt knife, causing them significant pain and distress.

Prosecutor Tony Kelbrick from the RSPCA described the footage to the court, emphasizing that the goats appeared to be still alive during dismemberment and butchering. The court was shown images of Hawkswell and Lakha attempting to slaughter the animals using a sawing motion, which was both inept and cruel. Kelbrick explained that although the slaughter was intended to be halal, the method employed was far from proper, involving multiple cuts and causing unnecessary suffering.

The court heard that the goats had been purchased at a market in Haswell, Durham, and transported to North Yorkshire for slaughter on January 14, 2002. Lakha reportedly bought the carcasses for approximately £200, claiming the meat was intended to feed his large extended family, which included around 150 people. However, prior to this, a 2002 article by the now-defunct Sunday People newspaper had already exposed Hawkswell as a