Cruel magistrate, 64, and her daughter, 29, who put dog in a baby jumper that stuck to its weeping skin and had to be cut off by a vet are banned from keeping animals

• The West Highland white terriers, Poppy and Holly, had chronic skin problems
• But magistrate Gail Bradshaw and daughter Nicola kept one in baby jumpers
• The filthy jumper stuck to the dog’s weeping skin when removed by vet 

A magistrate and her daughter whose dog was found with bald, weeping skin have each been sentenced to 200 hours of community service.

Gail Bradshaw, 64, and her daughter Nicola, 29, were found guilty of two counts of animal cruelty against their West Highland white terriers, Poppy and Holly, following a two-day trial at Preston Magistrates’ Court in April.

Both dogs, Poppy and Holly, had chronic and severe skin conditions which led to infection and fur loss, the court heard.

From left, Gail Bradshaw and her daughter Nicola Bradshaw, both of Leigh, arrive at Preston Magistrates’ Court for sentencing

Gail Bradshaw, 64, and her daughter Nicola, 29, were found guilty of two counts of animal cruelty against their West Highland white terriers, Poppy and Holly, following a two-day trial

The court was told that visits to the vets with Poppy, above, in 2014 and 2015 established the cause of her hair loss and skin infection, but the Bradshaws, of Minehead Avenue, Leigh, were inconsistent in following the treatment plans

Both pets suffered with skin infections, the court heard. Holly, above, started to show similar symptoms to Poppy in early 2017, the RSPCA said, but was not taken to the vet, despite both animals being covered by a ‘Rolls-Royce’ insurance plan

A filthy baby jumper was put on one of the dogs, which made her skin weep when removed by the vet

Bradshaw, a magistrate of 30 years, put a filthy baby jumper on one of the dogs which stuck to its ‘weeping skin’ when removed by a vet.

The court was told that visits to the vets with Poppy in 2014 and 2015 established the cause of her hair loss and skin infection, but the Bradshaws, of Minehead Avenue, Leigh, were inconsistent in following the treatment plans.

A vet organised a new plan in March 2015, and advised the Bradshaws to return in seven to 10 days, but Poppy was never taken back, said the RSPCA.

Holly started to show similar symptoms in early 2017, the charity added, but was not taken to the vet, despite both animals being covered by a ‘Rolls-Royce’ insurance plan.  

RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald said: ‘The severity of the skin conditions and fur loss suffered by these dogs was the worst I’ve seen in my 15-year career.

‘They were in an absolutely shocking state.

‘When I first saw Poppy she was wearing a filthy baby jumper.

‘Gail Bradshaw said she put it on her to keep her warm and to stop her scratching herself raw.

Bradshaw, who has been a magistrate at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court for 30 years, decided to ‘self-treat’ one of the dogs after she didn’t think treatment for a skin condition was working. She put a filthy baby jumper on one of the dogs which stuck to her weeping skin when removed by a vet, Preston Magistrates’ Court heard

 Philip Clemo, defending, said: ‘This is not an animal cruelty case where someone has been wilfully cruel or mean to an animal. This case amounts to a series of serious errors of judgment

‘When the vet tried to remove the jumper it had stuck to Poppy’s weeping skin around her armpits, chest and front legs.’

When the two dogs came into the RSPCA’s care, their conditions improved rapidly. 

One of the charges refers to a day or dates between April 1 2015 and September 29 2017, with the second one alleging the defendants were at fault for the same length of time from November 29 2016 to September 29, 2017.

Nicola Bradshaw declined to give evidence or to be cross-examined in the trial.

Philip Clemo, defending, said: ‘This is not an animal cruelty case where someone has been wilfully cruel or mean to an animal. This case amounts to a series of serious errors of judgment.

‘They deeply cared for these animals but were, I’m afraid to say, incompetent in caring for them.

‘I hope their remorse and upset at what happened is clear. It is clear the devastation they display and they now know it did not need to happen and it could have been prevented.’

He added the impact of the proceedings had had a ‘major effect’ on the pair with both being afraid to go out in public.

Nicola Bradshaw had been the subject of online abuse with one message on Facebook stating she should ‘rot in hell’, the solicitor said. 

Gail Bradshaw had earlier resigned her position at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court following the guilty verdicts.

Sentencing the pair to 200 hours community work each, which must be completed in the next twelve weeks, Chair Ruth James said: ‘Both dogs were subject to over three years of neglect, so this falls into a high level of suffering and culpability.’

Gail Bradshaw, a magistrate of 30 years, put a filthy baby jumper on one of the dogs, Poppy, above, which stuck to its ‘weeping skin’ when removed by a vet

Poppy’s weeping skin was exposed once the vet had removed the baby jumper. The court heard the only reason the defendants had avoided an immediate custodial sentence was due to having good character and no previous convictions

She told the pair that Poppy and Holly are to be re-homed, and she banned them from owning dogs for a period of five years.

Both defendants bowed their heads in the dock throughout Tuesday’s hearing as Gail Bradshaw frequently wiped away tears.  

The court heard the only reason they avoided an immediate custodial sentence was due to having good character and no previous convictions.

The pair must also pay an £85 victim surcharge, £500 each in court costs and £490 to cover the cost of expert analysis.

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