JOE WHITTAM, THE WILDLIFE PERSECUTOR AND DOG ABUSER FROM LANCASTER, SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY AND BREACHES

Joseph Shaun Whittam, a man with a long history of animal cruelty and wildlife persecution, has once again found himself in serious legal trouble. Born on June 7, 1990, Whittam was previously residing in Carnforth, Lancashire, but has since moved to Greenset Close in Lancaster. His criminal activities and violations of animal welfare laws have garnered significant attention from authorities and animal rights organizations alike.

In December 2018, Whittam was disqualified from keeping any animals for life following a series of heinous acts. Despite this ban, officers conducting a routine check at his Lancaster residence uncovered evidence that he had continued to keep animals illegally. Specifically, they found three dogs and four ferrets at his property, directly contravening the court order that prohibited him from owning or caring for animals.

Whittam’s history of animal cruelty is well-documented. In December 2018, he was jailed for setting fighting dogs on a pet cat and a fox, injuries inflicted on the animals that he failed to treat properly. His actions not only demonstrated a blatant disregard for animal welfare but also led to his initial disqualification from keeping animals for life. Despite this, he was caught breaching this order once again.

On Friday, January 20, 2023, Whittam appeared in court to face charges related to his ongoing violations. He pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including causing unnecessary suffering to a brown Patterdale terrier named Thugly. The dog had sustained facial injuries consistent with fighting wild animals, injuries that Whittam failed to seek veterinary treatment for after the incident. It was established that Whittam had allowed Thugly to engage in a dangerous encounter with a wild mammal, which resulted in the injuries.

Furthermore, Whittam was found to be in breach of his lifetime disqualification order by keeping four ferrets and a dog at his Lancaster home. This breach was uncovered during a joint operation in April 2021, when officers from the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, alongside Lancashire Police, executed a warrant at Greenset Close. The operation was prompted by suspicions that Whittam was violating his court-imposed ban.

During the raid, RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles described the scene: “In the yard, there were three hutches, two of which were contained within a brick-built shelter, stacked one on top of the other. Inside the top hutch, there were three adult ferrets, all appearing to be in good health. Adjacent to the house, near the back door, there was another hutch with a single adult ferret, also in normal condition. I was informed by a police officer that this ferret had recently been transferred to that hutch as it was loose during the warrant.”

At the property, a woman present claimed ownership of three dogs found there, while Whittam admitted to owning the ferrets. Authorities ordered him to rehome the animals immediately to prevent further suffering.

In sentencing, the court handed down four concurrent custodial sentences. Whittam received 23 weeks in prison for two offences related to Thugly’s injuries and 18 weeks each for the breaches of his disqualification order. The sentences reflect the seriousness of his repeated violations and the cruelty inflicted upon the animals involved.