JEFFREY AND RICHARD SPEAKMAN'S CRUEL PUPPY FARM IN WALSHAW EXPOSED

Jeffrey Speakman, born around 1947, and his son Richard Speakman, born circa 1991, both residents of Walshaw, became the focus of a significant animal cruelty investigation that uncovered their illegal puppy breeding operation. The authorities, including police and RSPCA inspectors, launched a raid on Bentley Hall Farm, located on Bentley Hall Road in Bury, following an undercover investigation by the Manchester Evening News (M.E.N.) that revealed the extent of their illicit activities.

During the operation, investigators discovered appalling conditions at the farm. Dogs were found living amidst their own waste, with many suffering from untreated medical issues. One particularly tragic find was a Labrador that had died in her bed from organ failure, highlighting the neglect and poor health standards prevalent at the site. The conditions inside the farm were overcrowded, filthy, and inhumane, with many animals appearing thirsty, in pain, and neglected.

Inspectors reported that some of the older dogs had been kept solely as 'breeding machines,' used repeatedly to produce litters of puppies that were sold for approximately £250 each. The authorities seized a total of 137 animals during the raid, many of whom were found in distress—left in pain, dehydrated, and confined in cramped, dirty sheds. The Manchester Evening News reporters visited Bentley Hall Farm multiple times and observed several litters of Border Collies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Labradors housed in dilapidated barns, further illustrating the neglect.

It was revealed that the Speakmans had been operating without the necessary license required for commercial dog breeding for approximately 18 months. This illegal activity not only violated animal welfare laws but also demonstrated a blatant disregard for the health and safety of the animals involved. All seized dogs were subsequently handed over to the RSPCA for rehoming, ensuring they would no longer be subjected to the conditions they endured at Bentley Hall Farm.

Richard Speakman, a father of two, was among those involved in the operation. RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles commented on the case, stating, “Some of the dogs were six years old and have been used as nothing more than ‘breeding machines,’ producing litter after litter of puppies to be sold for £250 plus each. The Speakmans put profit before welfare, as these types of businesses do.”

Inspector Bowles further explained, “These puppies were being sold a little bit cheaper than they would normally be. It’s the equivalent of the difference between the welfare of a battery chicken and a free-range chicken. Nobody intends to, of course, but buying from a place like this, from people like this, is to finance misery. Always go to a rescue centre, or if you really must buy, do your research and choose a reputable breeder.”

In October 2013, the Speakmans faced sentencing. Jeffrey and Richard received a four-month suspended jail sentence, along with 200 hours of unpaid work. They were also ordered to pay £500 in costs each and were banned from keeping dogs for ten years, a ban that was set to expire in October 2023.

Further developments in 2014 revealed that Neil Speakman, Richard’s brother, had applied for a pet shop license at the same location. The application was rejected by Bury Council amid protests from local residents and animal welfare groups such as CARIAD. Neil stated that he had invested over £6,000 preparing the farm for a pet shop, emphasizing that his intentions differed from his family's previous activities. He expressed disappointment over the decision, claiming that public perception influenced the outcome and that the proposed pet shop would not have been a puppy farm but a legitimate retail outlet without breeding on-site. Neil also insisted, “I’m not my dad and I’m not my brother. But I think the decision was inevitable. It felt like I was fighting a losing battle.”