MOHAMMED MALIK'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN LUTON REVEALED

Mohammed Malik, a resident of Luton, was found guilty of severe animal welfare violations stemming from his smallholding in Kempston. Born on May 4, 1983, Malik’s neglectful treatment of hundreds of animals led to a series of investigations and ultimately his imprisonment.

The case came to light after multiple visits by the RSPCA and Trading Standards between April and August 2018, during which authorities issued numerous warnings and advice to Malik, urging him to improve the conditions in which his animals were kept. Despite these efforts, Malik continued to neglect his animals, prompting a large-scale, multi-agency operation in September 2018 involving police, RSPCA officers, Trading Standards officials, the Animal Plant and Health Agency, and veterinary professionals.

Over the course of three days, approximately 300 animals were rescued from Malik’s premises on welfare grounds. The animals removed included 195 chickens, 50 goats, five horses, three alpacas, five sheep, 32 geese, eight ducks, two turkeys, and three peafowl. The operation was prompted by the ongoing concerns about the poor conditions and the continued neglect despite prior warnings.

Further complaints and inspections led to additional removals, with the RSPCA returning four more times to confiscate animals. The final visit on February 4, 2019, resulted in the seizure of 368 pigeons, 38 chickens, and three quails. During the investigation, officers discovered that many animals were kept in deplorable conditions, with inadequate access to clean water and food. Several animals were found to be in poor physical health, with some horses showing bones protruding and overgrown hooves, kept on bare ground with insufficient grazing or supplementary feed. The water sources for these animals were dirty, and many sheep and goats were underweight, with some goats housed in makeshift sheds constructed from pallets and lacking proper hay or grazing options.

Alpacas were also found to be underweight with overgrown hooves, and poultry was kept in filthy environments strewn with rubbish and hazards. Dead poultry carcasses were discovered on the premises, further highlighting the neglect. A veterinarian who attended the site described the conditions as grossly negligent, emphasizing that the animals’ basic needs had been consistently unmet despite professional advice.

Following the case, RSPCA Inspector Susan Haywood expressed her shock at the conditions. She stated, “Despite visits by the RSPCA and Trading Standards giving advice and warning notices to improve the manner in which these animals were being kept, this was mostly ignored. The conditions of the animals, and the locations they were kept in, was shocking. Animals were in poor body conditions and were being kept in places without adequate clean water, grazing and feed. Some animals had their bones showing, others were lame and many had overgrown hooves. If someone takes on a large number of animals, it is essential that they have the knowledge to look after them and also understand any regulations that may be relevant to the types they are keeping.”

Malik’s neglect extended beyond animal welfare, as he faced prosecution from Bedford Borough Council’s Trading Standards team for four offences under the Animal By-Products legislation. These offences involved the failure to properly secure and dispose of carcasses, representing a serious risk of disease transmission to both humans and other animals.

Many of the animals confiscated have been rehomed through the RSPCA, with efforts ongoing to find suitable new homes for the remaining animals.

In sentencing, Malik received a 12-week immediate custodial sentence for each of the eight RSPCA offences, to run concurrently. Additionally, he was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for the four Trading Standards charges, also to run concurrently with the other sentences. Malik was ordered to pay £1,000 in prosecution costs to the RSPCA, an equal amount to cover council costs, and a surcharge of £115. Furthermore, he was disqualified from keeping all animals for a period of 20 years, with a stipulation that he cannot apply to terminate this order for at least 10 years.