LOWESTOFT COUPLE MICHAEL DRIVER AND BETHANY WILDMAN CONVICTED OF NEGLECTING CATS IN LOWESTOFT

In 2022, Michael Ian Mark Driver of Raglan Street and Bethany Alice Wildman (also known as Bethany Bush) of High Street in Lowestoft were convicted of mistreating four cats by leaving them unattended for extended periods. The cats—Sparkle, Marble, HJ, and Shadow—were repeatedly left alone for days despite warnings from the RSPCA.

RSPCA officers attempted to investigate the situation by visiting the couple’s flat and sealing the door with tape to monitor contact. Through these measures, they discovered the cats had been left alone on four separate occasions, each lasting from 24 hours to over 48 hours. Photos and footage captured through the letterbox revealed the cats was loudly meowing and clawing at the door for food.

Out of concern, officers slipped food pouches through the letterbox, which the starving cats eagerly snatched from their hands. Despite these efforts and warnings, Driver and Wildman continued to ignore contact attempts from the RSPCA.

Eventually, contact was made with Driver, who claimed a friend was feeding the cats. Police then arranged to meet Driver along with RSPCA inspector Amy Pellegrini, who led the investigation. Inside the property, inspectors described conditions as dark, cold, and messy, with three litter trays found to be 'very soiled and dirty.' It was decided that the cats would be removed, and a warning notice was issued stating they could not return until the environment was cleaned and the animals were properly fed.

The RSPCA offered to rehome the cats, but this offer was refused. Instead, the couple moved the cats to two separate addresses—Driver to Victoria Arcade in Great Yarmouth with Sparkle and Marble, and Wildman to a friend’s property with HJ and Shadow. However, later investigations found these cats abandoned at Driver’s new residence. Wildman also returned HJ and Shadow to the original flat in Lowestoft against RSPCA advice.

After Christmas, the RSPCA received another call about the cats left alone. They found the premises utterly filthy, with no food or water visible and the cats clearly underweight and hungry. Inspector Pellegrini observed the cats’ dire condition and the signs of their distress.

The animals were seized by police and taken into RSPCA care. Inspector Pellegrini stated: “I believed the cats were starving due to the scratches at the door and the loud noises they were making. It was claimed the flat was being visited every day but we proved that was untrue. No one was attending regularly, and the cats’ behavior was concerning. Each time the cats were fed through the letterbox, they tried to snatch the food due to their desperation.”

Regarding sentencing, Driver and Wildman each received a £120 fine, were ordered to pay £120 in costs, and a £34 victim surcharge. Additionally, both were banned from keeping any animals for five years.