SLOUGH MAN BANNED FROM OWNING ANIMALS AFTER KEEPING DOG IN HOT CAR
A man who abandoned his dog inside the trunk of a car during the year's hottest day has been prohibited from owning animals.On April 27, 2026, at Reading Magistrates’ Court, Jawad Nadeem pleaded guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering and neglecting his duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, resulting in his ban from keeping animals.
The incident occurred on June 19, 2025, on Wordsworth Road in Slough.
Emergency services arrived at 12:50 pm to find a German Shepherd confined in the vehicle's trunk.
Nadeem, who was the registered owner, admitted to police that he had left the dog in the trunk for at least three hours.
The dog was exposed to the intense heat of that day (Image: Slough Borough Council).
Ian Blake, the housing special projects manager at Slough Borough Council, commented: "This was a particularly difficult case due to Jawad Nadeem’s deliberate cruelty to the dogs involved and his refusal to cooperate or reveal where the second dog was being kept after it was not seized." The dog was found distressed, dehydrated, and suffering from heat exhaustion, and was taken to a veterinary clinic for urgent treatment.
Veterinarians also found that the dog had an untreated degenerative issue in its hind leg that required surgical intervention.
On the following day, June 20, 2025, neighbors reported that Nadeem had placed another German Shepherd in a wire crate in direct sunlight in his backyard.
When police and council officers arrived, both Nadeem and the second dog had already left the property.
He was later located at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he was arrested.
During questioning at Maidenhead Police Station, Nadeem refused to answer and made a "no comment" reply when asked about the whereabouts of the second dog.
Mr.
Blake noted: "It was also suspected that Nadeem was involved with more than these two dogs, as he appeared to be engaged in activities as a security dog handler and regularly transporting dogs." Following an investigation led by Mr.
Blake, Nadeem was charged by Slough Borough Council.
He initially denied the charges but later changed his plea to guilty.
At sentencing, Nadeem stated he needed a dog for his work.
He was given a community order requiring 200 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay £5,102 in prosecution costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Payments are to be made in £50 monthly installments starting by May 25, 2026.
Additionally, Nadeem is prohibited from owning or being involved with any animals for 10 years, and the dog was not returned to him.
The only dog recovered, a German Shepherd found in the car, made a full recovery after surgery and has since been adopted as a family pet.
Slough Borough Council welcomed the sentence.
(Image: Slough Borough Council).
Mr.
Blake stated: "The council is satisfied with the sentence and pleased that the German Shepherd is now leading a happy life away from previous cruelty." This case underscores ongoing concerns about the welfare of working dogs and the responsibilities of handlers, especially during extreme weather conditions.
The defendant’s conduct was strongly condemned by animal welfare officials and the broader community.
