GRANT LEIGH SENIOR, JUNIOR AND PARIS CARDING: HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN WYTHENSHAWE AND HYDE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Wythenshawe and Hyde, three individuals—Grant Leigh Senior, Grant Leigh Junior, and Paris Jade Carding—have been convicted of heinous acts of animal cruelty. The case, which came to light after an anonymous tip-off, revealed a disturbing pattern of hunting, fighting, and torturing animals, including dogs, badgers, and foxes, in what can only be described as barbaric family expeditions.

Grant Leigh Senior, born on February 4, 1970, and his son Grant Leigh Junior, born on March 24, 1991, both residing at 38 Marler Road, Hyde SK14 4BD, along with Paris Jade Carding, born on August 15, 1993, of 12 Fawley Grove, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 9WG, were all found guilty of multiple offences related to animal cruelty. The investigation was triggered in October 2020 when a rural crime officer from Cheshire Police was contacted anonymously regarding posts and photographs shared within a private Facebook group operated by Grant Leigh Senior.

Following this tip-off, authorities from the RSPCA and Cheshire Police launched a comprehensive investigation. Warrants were executed at two addresses in Greater Manchester, leading to the seizure of six dogs, which were taken into the care of the RSPCA. Mobile phones belonging to the suspects were also confiscated and subjected to forensic analysis, uncovering a trove of videos and images depicting dogs engaged in hunting and fighting with wild animals such as badgers and foxes. Many of these recordings featured young children actively participating or present during these brutal acts.

One particularly disturbing video clip shows a fox being mauled by dogs, highlighting the severity of the cruelty involved. Paris Carding appeared in 32 separate videos, all of which depicted her engaging in what the court described as “vicious and nasty” treatment of animals. In one of these videos, she is heard encouraging the dogs to attack, saying, “There it is, it’s a pig [badger], isn’t it? Bash, bash it, ooh, it’s biting.”

Another clip shows Carding urging a toddler to bring a lurcher dog to attack a badger sett, with her saying, “Her face is going to be smashed. Good boy, get him out. Look at them fighting.” She also incited three dogs to pull a fox apart, further illustrating her active participation in these barbaric acts. Investigations revealed that she was part of a family expedition involving her boyfriend, Grant Leigh Junior, and his ex-huntsman father, Grant Leigh Senior.

In one particularly shocking video, Leigh Junior is seen instructing a toddler on how to hit a badger with a spade. Another image shows Grant Junior holding a dead fox alongside a child, accompanied by the caption, “Family day out, learn these kids young. Hunting mad!”

Grant Leigh Senior was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier and neglecting six other dogs. Meanwhile, Grant Leigh Junior, who is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for burglary, admitted to seven wildlife offences, including hunting with dogs and keeping animals in poor conditions. Carding, who previously worked at a primary school in Manchester until 2021, was found guilty of five cruelty charges under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, a case officer for the charity’s Special Operation Unit, stated in court: “Upon interrogating the phones, it was discovered that recordings had been made of extensive and graphic badger and fox persecution. It also became apparent that Leigh Jnr’s partner, Paris Carding, was present during these recordings. She was responsible for taking the footage, was heard encouraging both Leigh Jnr and the dogs during the attacks, and was completely complicit.”

Police also found evidence of abuse at Leigh Senior’s property, where officers discovered a kennel block in the back garden containing six dogs. Three of these dogs were recognizable from the videos, showing signs of severe injuries and scars. Two black Patterdale terriers had facial scarring, with one being underweight. Three bull lurcher types, including a dog named Mission, had facial injuries, and a white and black terrier named Clover had fresh wounds, swelling, and a swollen face and muzzle. The videos from the seized phones showed these dogs actively participating in hunting and fighting wildlife just two days before their removal.

An independent veterinarian examined the dogs and reported that the kennels were ‘unhygienic’ and that many of the animals bore ‘mature scars.’ Two of the dogs, Buster and Shay, were rehomed, while Clover and Mission belonged to Leigh Junior. The other two dogs, Rocky and Bronco, had been sourced from the internet. A third warrant executed on December 23, 2020, at Carding’s address led to the seizure of a terrier named Foxy, who appeared in videos on the phones. Carding claimed Foxy did not belong to her, and he was subsequently rehomed.

The veterinarian’s report detailed that all seven dogs showed signs of skin scarring, with most having injuries or missing teeth, consistent with fighting with animals of similar size. Two dogs had de-gloving injuries to the chin and jaw, injuries often associated with fights with badgers, further confirming the cruelty involved.

Cheshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Team, represented by PC Jim Clark, emphasized the severity of the case: “This investigation uncovered a horrific catalogue of abuses and neglect of animals and cruelty to wildlife. This result reinforces our determination to work with the RSPCA to deter this type of behaviour as part of our commitment to protecting our rural communities.”

Sentencing took place on March 9, 2022. Grant Leigh Junior received a maximum sentence of 26 weeks in prison, along with a victim surcharge of £128, a lifetime ban on keeping animals (with no application for removal for 25 years), and was ordered to pay costs. He is already serving a three-year sentence for burglary, and this sentence will run consecutively.

Paris Carding was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with a 16-week curfew, a £1,000 costs order, a £128 victim surcharge, and a 25-year ban on keeping animals (with no removal application for 15 years). The judge expressed disbelief that a mother of a young child could be involved in such horrors, criticizing her for being present during the acts and for filming them, calling her actions “perverse” and “trophy-like.”

Grant Leigh Senior received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, along with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, costs, victim surcharge, and a lifetime ban on keeping animals, similar to the others. All three individuals had their dogs confiscated and removed from their custody, marking a significant step in the effort to prevent further cruelty and protect vulnerable animals in the region.