Christchurch woman Lorraine George sentenced for cat cruelty

Lorraine George has been banned from keeping cats for ten years and ordered to pay £53,275 in costs.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that she allowed more than a dozen cats to suffer ailments including ruptured eyes, emaciation, ingrown claws and disease.

One animal was even put down.

The 64-year-old was found guilty of causing unnecessary harm to 13 cats between December 2021 and March 2022 following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court – where she defended herself.

The court heard that she kept and bred Persian cats for several years before moving into her late parents’ home in Freshwater Road, Christchurch, in 2013 with 24 cats – later adding five more.

They were not kept in cages and Judge Jonathan Fuller KC said George “chose to give them almost free reign” over the house.

Persian cats in the home of Lorraine George with faeces on the floor (Image: RSPCA)

In November 2021, a visitor to the house informed the RSPCA about “squalid and unclean conditions”.

This resulted in an operation the following March by the RSPCA, police and veterinary surgeons who seized the cats.

Judge Fuller KC said the house was riddled with “faecal matter” and that cats had it riddled in their fur.

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He said they were suffering from ingrown claws, chronic flea infestations, emaciation, dehydration, eye inflammation, gum and respiratory diseases.

One of the cats was later euthanised due to illness, the court was told.

When the punishment of a ten-year ban from owning cats was discussed, George said: “Given my age, even a ten-year disqualification will effectively ban me for life.

'Squalid' conditions endured by cats in the Christchurch home of Lorraine George (Image: RSPCA)

“I think it’s quite a harsh sentence.”

The court also heard that while the defendant agreed the conditions the cats lived in were “unacceptable”, she claimed they “always seemed happy to go back in their areas”.

George said her ill health hampered her ability to properly care for the cats.

However, prosecutor Rowan Jenkins told the sentencing hearing on August 8 how George had managed to care for her three dogs at the same time with no apparent issues.

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Sentencing, Judge Fuller KC said: “This is a case of prolonged disregard for the welfare of multiple animals.

“All of these conditions would have been obvious to a competent owner.

“You still struggle to acknowledge the criminality of your actions.”

Bournemouth Crown Court, where George appeared via video link (Image: Newsquest)

George, who had no previous convictions, was jailed for 26 weeks, however, the sentence was suspended for two years.

RSPCA inspector Patrick Bailey said: “This case is an example of how the RSPCA will make every effort to try to educate an owner on the correct way to look after their animals before taking legal action.

“Inspectors repeatedly tried to encourage the defendant to reduce her number of cats, improve animal husbandry and crucially seek veterinary assistance in a timely manner, including euthanasia when required.

“But she did not make decisions based on what was in the best interests of each individual cat. The judge said this was not a case of well-intentioned but incompetent care, but one of deliberate disregard for animal welfare.”