RICHARD ROSEN'S HORRIFIC FOX CRUELTY IN MUSWELL HILL: POISONING AND SLOW DEATH OF A DEFENSELESS CUB

Richard Adrian Rosen, born in June 1958 and residing at 78 Twyford Avenue, Muswell Hill, London N2 9NN, was involved in a disturbing incident involving the poisoning and prolonged suffering of a young fox cub. Despite the brutal nature of his actions, Rosen was ultimately sentenced to a conditional discharge, sparking outrage among animal welfare advocates.

On the evening of May 18, 2021, Rosen set a trap at the end of his garden in Twyford Avenue, Muswell Hill, with the intention of catching a rat that his lodger, Annabel Eager, had observed. The following morning, a three-month-old fox cub weighing approximately 2 kilograms was discovered caught in the trap. The scene was distressing; the young animal was frantic, scrabbling at the concrete, with its eyes wide with fear, snarling and showing its teeth. Rosen, upon approaching the trapped fox, admitted he was unsure of what to do but decided against releasing her, citing a fear of being bitten.

Rosen then retrieved a bottle of an old poison from the 1980s, which he believed to be chloroform. However, it was clearly labeled as dichloromethane (DCM), a substance that has been banned for use in the UK since 2010 due to its hazardous nature. The poison was used in paint stripper products until that time. Rosen placed the fox in a cage and then transferred her into a wheelie bin, where he poured a bowl of DCM, intending to euthanize her humanely. Despite his efforts, the fox did not die immediately. After approximately 40 minutes, Rosen covered the cage with a thick rubble bag, further prolonging her suffering.

Ms. Eager, who witnessed the events, recounted that Rosen appeared proud of himself for catching the fox. She described the animal as looking cramped and stressed, with fur protruding from the bars of the cage, and noted that the fox was desperately trying to escape but was unable to do so. Rosen’s actions drew criticism, especially given the fact that he had attempted to use a banned and dangerous substance to kill the animal.

When the RSPCA officer Jack Taylor arrived at the scene, he questioned Rosen about his motives. Rosen admitted that he had caught the fox accidentally and chose to kill it using chloroform, which he believed to be a humane method. He justified his actions by stating that foxes are vermin and that releasing her was unthinkable. Rosen also explained that he had tried to contact a veterinarian and the RSPCA for assistance but was unable to get through, which he claimed left him no choice but to proceed with his plan.

During the investigation, Rosen was asked to surrender the dead fox. His manner was dismissive; he shook the fox out of the cage as if trying to get ketchup out of a bottle. Rosen expressed regret that he did not receive proper advice from animal welfare authorities, claiming he would not have killed the fox if he had. When questioned about his derogatory comments about foxes, Rosen admitted that his frustration stemmed from foxes defecating on his driveway, which annoyed him.

Two animal forensic experts provided conflicting opinions regarding the nature of the fox’s death. Dr. Sean Taylor, called by the prosecution, stated that the inhalation of DCM in the confined space of the wheelie bin would have caused significant distress and suffering, with the fox’s eyes, nose, and airways likely stinging due to the irritant. Conversely, Dr. David Bailey, called by Rosen’s defense, argued that the fox appeared to have died peacefully, with no external trauma or signs of distress such as defecation or urination. Dr. Bailey suggested that death may have resulted from a buildup of carbon dioxide rather than oxygen deprivation, comparing the process to how pigs are slaughtered.

District Judge Denis Brennan reviewed the evidence and concluded that Rosen’s actions caused unnecessary suffering to the fox. He emphasized that the combination of inhaling DCM in a sealed wheelie bin and suffocation within the bag meant the animal endured significant pain. The judge noted that the fox was in the bin for at least 40 minutes before death, which was not instantaneous and involved considerable distress. The judge’s ruling found Rosen guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and administering a poisonous substance to it.

On September 22, 2023, Rosen was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £12,000 in costs to the RSPCA. The case has drawn attention to the cruelty involved and the dangers of using banned substances for animal euthanasia, highlighting the importance of proper animal welfare procedures and legal compliance.