A woman has been sentenced to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years, and banned for life from owning animals or applying for licences involving animals.
Micaela Anderson-Letts, 35, was found guilty of 15 offences at Kingston Crown Court on 7 January 2025 for the mistreatment, neglect, and numerous breaches of the Animal Welfare Act in a case involving over 80 animals.
It follows a joint investigation between the Corporation and the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames.
In May 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Kingston Council officers and City Corporation animal welfare inspectors visited a house in Kingston Vale.
They discovered a shocking scene in the garden, with dead, slaughtered, neglected and suffering animals.
They were initially alerted following a complaint about the noise and smell from the property, which led to a multi-agency visit where dogs, pigs and poultry were found in the garden.
As the investigation unfolded, inspectors found that Anderson-Letts was also selling puppies without a licence, illegally importing a large number of puppies, and falsifying pet passports to get puppies into the country. These were serious breaches of the controls in place to protect the UK from infectious diseases including rabies.
Over 80 animals were taken into care by the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames. This included 23 puppies and dogs, with many needing to spend time at quarantine kennels, and most needing veterinary treatment.
All of the animals recovered by the local authority survived and were rehomed, except one small chick.
Dogs Trust assisted the borough by caring for and ultimately rehoming all the puppies and dogs rescued.
Chairman of the Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, Mary Durcan, said:
“This was a truly shocking case of animal cruelty and neglect.
“Ms Anderson-Letts showed no regard for the law, or the welfare of the animals involved.
“This prosecution serves as a warning that we will take robust action against anyone found to be mistreating animals and breaking animal welfare laws.
“It also shows how vital collaborative working is to complex investigations like this.”
Councillor Afy Afilaka, Portfolio Holder for Commissioning, Customer Contact and Equalities at the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, said:
“This was a huge joint investigation into a very harrowing case, which involved a great deal of unnecessary suffering for the animals involved. Through the close and meticulous working of the teams at Kingston and the Corporation we were able to rescue many of the animals and bring the perpetrator to justice.
“We are committed to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare across the borough and will vigorously pursue anyone who mistreats or abuses animals.”
Micaela Anderson-Letts was found guilty of 15 offences under the Animal Welfare Act, including:
- Two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to two pigs and two puppies
- Five counts of failing to meet the welfare needs of animals in relation to four pigs, 56 poultry and 14 dogs and puppies
- Selling pets without a licence
- One count of Illegal importation of dogs
- Two counts of falsifying records (pet passports)
- Two counts of knowingly providing false or misleading information as to the origin of two dogs
- Two counts of failing to dispose of animal by-products
She was sentenced to concurrent custodial sentences of between 5 and 8 months for these offences. At the same hearing, she received a 24 month custodial sentence for an animal welfare offence prosecuted by Sussex Police and was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and 20 days rehabilitation activity. These sentences were suspended for two years, taking into account she has a young child and caring responsibilities.
The prosecution was the result of an investigation by the City Corporation, the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, supported by the Metropolitan Police, and other organisations.
The City Corporation provides regulatory animal health services for many London boroughs. City Corporation Animal Health Inspectors carry out inspections of over 500 premises a year on behalf of local authorities in London and the Home Counties.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – .
Kingston Council is the local authority for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames; working together with residents, partners and communities to create a greener, fairer, safer borough for all – www.kingston.gov.uk.
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