Man admits animal suffering after dead dogs found

A man has admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals at a rescue centre he owned where 41 dogs were found dead.

Animal remains and a number of still-alive dogs were found during a raid at a property in Crays Hill, near Billericay, Essex, on 13 May.

Oaveed Rahman, 26, who lived at the site of the rescue centre in Hope Road, admitted harming 21 dogs and a cat, as well as 11 counts of fraud by false representation.

He will be sentenced, at another hearing at Basildon Crown Court, on 20 February.

Judge Samantha Cohen ordered a pre-sentence report and told Rahman "immediate custody must remain the most likely sentence" as he had admitted "very serious offences".

At the time of the discovery, police officers found 20 living dogs in need of veterinary treatment alongside the remains of the other animals.

Prosecutors decided to acquit his co-defendant, Greta Csikos, who entered a not guilty plea last October to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to ensure an animal's welfare.

They will not proceed with a trial against her and the judge confirmed the case against her would lie on file.

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