Crufts trainer facing jail after letting three dogs boil to death in Land Rover
Andrew Claridge-Fleming could face five years in jail after the animals were left in his car for seven hours on a hot summer's day in 2023 - a fourth dog survived the tragedy
A respected Crufts dog trainer could face jail after allowing three pets to die in a baking hot car.
Andrew Claridge-Fleming left four dogs in the back of his Land Rover Discovery for seven hours on a hot day. The 57-year-old claimed he had left a door and the boot open for the dogs that were in crates.
He was then unexpectedly called away from his farm, but when he returned hours later he was 'shocked' to find the boot closed.
Claridge-Fleming found Milo, a six-month-old fox red Labrador, cocker spaniel Bodger and a cockapoo, named Rocky, had died of heat exhaustion. A fourth dog, his own cocker spaniel also called Milo, was alive but had to be rushed to the vet.
The car had been parked at his farm in New Milton, Hants at the time of the tragedy in August 2023.
Claridge-Fleming runs Gordleton Gundogs, a training school he set up in 2022.
His wife Nicola breeds working cocker spaniels under the same name.
He has represented England at the international game fair working test and made his debut at Crufts last year.
Claridge-Fleming admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals when he appeared at Bournemouth crown court.
In a statement read out by his barrister, he said: "I had taken the dogs out for training that morning and returned at approximately 9am.
"They were left in a crate in the back of the car with capacity for four dogs, two in each compartment. They were left with water and I left the back door and boot open on my Land Rover Discovery.
"My wife and I had four children, my wife had just given birth.
"She had gone out to visit her aunt but came back a short while later saying she couldn't cope with the drive with all the children.
"I said I would take them, this was around 10am. It was otherwise unplanned. I was gone until approximately 4pm.
"When I returned I was shocked to find the boot had been closed. Three out of four had perished. I was distraught. I did what I could to cool Rocky down before taking him to the vet.
"I do not accept I am directly responsible for their deaths but I do accept I left the dogs unattended for too long.
"At gun dog trials, dogs are routinely kept in crates in the back of vehicles, it is standard practice in the industry.
"I regret the incident immensely."
He will be sentenced in August and faces up to five years behind bars.
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The note also made reference to what appeared to be a plan to put explosive in a cash machine and listed weapons including knives and crossbows, the court was told. In the event, the plans were abandoned as his thinking developed, jurors heard. Jurors were told of a file entitled 'you can't see me' containing another attack plan, this time to hijack a plane. Mr De La Poer said that in the 'cold light of day' this plan appeared to be 'far-fetched and childish'. He went on: 'The prosecution's case is that however he presented to the outside world when at work, Mr Coleman was seething with hatred on the inside. As a result he created a list.' In September 2022, the defendant allegedly compiled a list of vehicle number plates on his phone, with one belonging to a colleague at Tesco labelled 'race traitor'. Jurors heard how he had singled out the white female co-worker who was married to a man of mixed Indian and Seychellois heritage. At the time, the defendant's reading included an extreme right-wing text which included a scene entitled 'The Day of the Rope' in which 'white race traitors' were hanged on a single day. In the summer of 2023, the defendant allegedly turned his attention to an attack in France and attempted to arrange the purchase of military grade weaponry there. In a 'Diary' document, he allegedly explained he had picked France because it was close to 'all out race war' and it was 'where I feel most useful and where I can create the biggest impact'. In the event, Coleman never travelled to France due to practical difficulties, jurors were told. Two days before he was due to pick up the Makarov and ammunition in Stratford, Coleman allegedly told an online contact: 'Just something has gotta be done, how long can we sit here and talk over the internet.' The same day, Coleman ordered a Gerber Strong Arm knife with a 4.8 inch blade online, the court was told. 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