Latest news with #AndrewClaridgeFleming
The Independent
6 days ago
- The Independent
Crufts trainer who allowed three dogs to bake to death in hot car is spared jail
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Crufts dog trainer who allowed three pets to bake to death in a hot car has been spared jail. Andrew Claridge-Fleming, 57, left the four gundogs in crates in the back of his Land Rover Discovery for six hours on a hot summer's day. He was unexpectedly called away to drive his wife to a relative's house and by the time he returned three of the four dogs had perished in the 23C heat. Two of them, Milo, a six-month-old fox red Labrador, and a cocker spaniel called Bodger, belonged to clients. Claridge-Fleming tried to cool down the fourth dog, his own cocker spaniel Rocky, before rushing him to the vet. He said he had left water and a door and the boot open to keep the dogs cool at his farm in New Milton, Hants, on August 3, 2023. But he returned to find someone had shut the doors while he was gone. Claridge-Fleming runs training school Gordleton Gundogs and made his debut at Crufts last year with a canine called Ato. He was featured in an issue of Gundog Journal the year before this incident and has represented England at the international game fair working test. Bournemouth Crown Court heard Claridge-Fleming had taken the four dogs out for training in the morning and returned home at about 9am. open image in gallery Andrew Claridge-Fleming outside court ( BNPS ) He left them an hour later and did not return until 4pm. The three dogs, which also included Claridge-Fleming's other pet, a cockapoo, died from heatstroke and hypothermia. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals on a basis of plea, denying he was directly responsible for the deaths. Silas Lee, prosecuting, read the basis which 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." Rachael Helier, the owner of Milo, said she felt anger towards Claridge-Fleming. open image in gallery Andrew Claridge-Fleming ( BNPS ) Milo was doing a one month training course and his death had left Ms Helier's young children 'distraught'. The court heard the trainer first claimed to Ms Helier he had only been left unattended for an hour. He later said it had been 'a few hours' before finally acknowledging his six hour absence. Ms Helier's victim statement, read out in court, said: "Finding out our puppy had died was just awful but knowing he died from being shut in a hot car in avoidable circumstances just made it worse. "Telling our two girls, aged seven and nine, Milo had died and hearing them wailing and physically upset was horrible. "We understand accidents happen but had Andrew Claridge-Fleming been apologetic or remorseful at the start of the process we would likely have forgiven him. "But him lying and being defensive, making us feel like we were being difficult, has made our anger towards him more pronounced. "We miss Milo every day and the girls will never get over losing him so soon - he has left a big hole in our family." The other dogs which perished were a cocker spaniel named Bodger and a cockapoo named Rocky. Bodger's owner was also a client who did not support the prosecution. The fourth dog, also named Rocky, was taken to the vet with hyperthermia. The court heard the evidence of veterinary surgeon Naomi Williams that the dogs would have suffered from heatstroke and hypothermia from not being able to regulate their body temperatures. Holly Hagan, defending, said Claridge-Fleming has children who would 'suffer terribly' if he received a custodial sentence. She added: "He is genuinely devastated by the fact this happened. "Dogs are not only pets to him but his livelihood and passion." She told the court that the defendant continues to run his dog training business but no longer advertises and relies on people 'that know him and trust him'. Her Honour Judge Suzanne Evans KC handed Claridge-Fleming a 27 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. She told him: "Your shocking lack of care for these dogs and negligence of them is what led to their deaths. "On August 3, 2023, the temperature was in the region of 22-23C and everybody, even people who are not experts, knows that in the middle of hot weather dogs are highly vulnerable in hot vehicles and should never be left there. "It may be practiced in the gundog industry (that dogs are left in these conditions) but for an outsider it seems entirely wrong. "They were left to suffer in the back of the car for six hours while you were distracted by a family emergency. "Dogs are loving, trusting creatures who rely upon those who care for them and you failed the dogs entirely." Claridge-Fleming was also ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge and undisclosed costs. Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Patrick Bailey, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: "Many people think something like this will never happen to them so we hope this saddening case reminds people that the risk to the lives of animals is so high. "We'd plead with people to never leave a dog in a vehicle even for a moment, especially during hot weather.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Crufts trainer who allowed three dogs to bake to death after leaving them in his Land Rover for six hours in 23C heat is spared jail
A Crufts trainer who allowed three dogs to bake to death after leaving them in his Land Rover for six hours in searing heat has been spared jail. Andrew Claridge-Fleming, 57, left four gundogs in the boot of the 4x4 car on a hot summer's day after he was unexpectedly called away to drive his wife to a relative's house. Two of the animals who perished in the 23C temperatures belonged to clients: Milo, a six-month-old fox red Labrador, and a cocker spaniel called Bodger. The trainer's own dog, a cockapoo called Rocky, died from heatstroke while in the car which was parked at his farm in New Milton, Hampshire on August 3, 2023. A cocker spaniel, also named Rocky, another one of Claridge-Fleming's dogs, survived the ordeal after being rushed to the vet. Claridge-Fleming pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals on a basis of plea, denying he was directly responsible for the deaths. The trainer was handed a 27-month prison sentence at Bournemouth Crown Court, suspended for 18 months, and was also ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge and undisclosed costs. Claridge-Fleming had taken the four dogs out for training in the morning and returned home at about 9am. He said he had left water and a door and the boot open to keep the dogs cool as he drove off in another vehicle at around 10am. The dog owner did not return until 4pm, at which point he claimed he discovered someone had shut the doors while he was gone. Claridge-Fleming runs training school Gordleton Gundogs and made his debut at Crufts last year with a dog called Ato. He was featured in an issue of Gundog Journal in 2022 and has represented England at the international game fair working test. His wife Nicola breeds working cocker spaniels under the same name. Rachael Helier, Milo's owner, said she felt anger towards Claridge-Fleming. Her dog was doing a one-month training course and his death had left Ms Helier's young children 'distraught'. The trainer first claimed to Ms Helier that her dog had only been left unattended for an hour, the court heard. He later said it had been 'a few hours' before finally admitting the full extent of his absence. Ms Helier's victim statement said: 'Finding out our puppy had died was just awful but knowing he died from being shut in a hot car in avoidable circumstances just made it worse. 'Telling our two girls, aged seven and nine, Milo had died and hearing them whaling and physically upset was horrible. 'We understand accidents happen but had Andrew Claridge-Fleming been apologetic or remorseful at the start of the process we would likely have forgiven him. 'But him lying and being defensive, making us feel like we were being difficult, has made our anger towards him more pronounced. 'We miss Milo every day and the girls will never get over losing him so soon - he has left a big hole in our family.' Silas Lee, prosecuting, read the basis which 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.' Silas Lee, prosecuting, read the basis which 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.' The court heard the evidence of veterinary surgeon Naomi Williams that the dogs would have suffered from heatstroke and hyperthermia from not being able to regulate their body temperatures. Holly Hagan, defending, said Claridge-Fleming has five children, including a step-child, who would 'suffer terribly' if he received a custodial sentence. She added: 'He is genuinely devastated by the fact this happened. Dogs are not only pets to him but his livelihood and passion.' She told the court that the defendant continues to run his dog training business but no longer advertises and relies on people 'that know him and trust him'. Her Honour Judge Suzanne Evans KC told Claridge-Fleming: 'Your shocking lack of care for these dogs and negligence of them is what led to their deaths. 'On August 3, 2023, the temperature was in the region of 22-23C and everybody, even people who are not experts, knows that in the middle of hot weather dogs are highly vulnerable in hot vehicles and should never be left there. 'It may be practiced in the gundog industry (that dogs are left in these conditions) but for an outsider it seems entirely wrong. 'They were left to suffer in the back of the car for six hours while you were distracted by a family emergency. Dogs are loving, trusting creatures who rely upon those who care for them and you failed the dogs entirely.' Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Patrick Bailey, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: 'Many people think something like this will never happen to them so we hope this saddening case reminds people that the risk to the lives of animals is so high. 'We'd plead with people to never leave a dog in a vehicle even for a moment, especially during hot weather.'
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Telegraph
Crufts trainer allows three dogs to die in hot car
A Crufts dog trainer allowed three pets to die in a baking hot car, a court heard. Andrew Claridge-Fleming left the animals in crates in the boot of his Land Rover Discovery for seven hours in August 2023. Three of the dogs died from heat exhaustion and another recovered after being taken to a vet, a court heard. Claridge-Fleming admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals on the basis that he was not directly responsible for their deaths. He said he had left a door and the boot open to keep the dogs cool at his farm in New Milton, Hampshire, on Aug 3 2023. But when he returned later that day the doors were shut and Milo, a six-month-old fox red Labrador, Bodger, a cocker spaniel, and a cockapoo named Rocky, were dead. Two of them were his own dogs while the other two belonged to clients. His own cocker spaniel, also called Rocky, survived, Bournemouth Crown Court heard. The 57-year-old, who runs the training school Gordleton Gundogs, made his debut at Crufts last year with a canine called Ato. In a statement read out on his behalf, he told the court he had been unexpectedly called away from his farm to drive his wife and four children to see a relative at 9am and did not return until 4pm. 'I had taken the dogs out for training that morning and returned at approximately 9am,' he said. '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.' Holly Fagan, defending, told the court her client was 'deeply sorry' for the loss of the two dogs owned by others. The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be carried out, but Claridge-Fleming could face jail when he returns to be sentenced in August. The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is five years in prison. Richard Onslow, the recorder, said: 'I can't tell you what sort of sentence it will be. There are no promises, no guarantees.'
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Crufts gundog trainer allowed three dogs to bake to death after leaving them in Land Rover for seven hours on hot summer day, court told
A Crufts gundog trainer let three dogs bake to death on a hot summer's day by leaving them for seven hours in the back of his Land Rover. Andrew Claridge-Fleming, 57, abandoned the four dogs in crates in his Land Rover Discovery at a farm in Hampshire - and has now admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals. He claimed he had left a door and the boot open for the dogs when he was unexpectedly called away from his Ashley Manor Farm home in New Milton. And he told a court that he was 'shocked' to find the boot closed when returning to the vehicle hours later. Inside were the tragic dogs Milo, a six-month-old fox red Labrador, cocker spaniel Bodger and a cockapoo named Rocky, all of whom had died of heat exhaustion. A fourth dog, Claridge-Fleming's own cocker spaniel also called Rocky, was alive but had to be rushed to the vet. The car had been parked at Claridge-Fleming's farm home on August 3 2023. Claridge-Fleming runs Gordleton Gundogs, a training school he set up in 2022, while his wife Nicola breeds working cocker spaniels under the same name. He claimed he had left a door and the boot of the Land Rover Discovery (pictured) open for the dogs when he was unexpectedly called away from his home in New Milton, Hampshire The defendant is a field test secretary for the Hampshire Gundog Society as well as the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Labrador Retriever Club. He has represented England at the international game fair working test and made his debut at international dog show Crufts last year with a canine called Ato. A year before the heat exhaustion incident, he was featured in an issue of Gundog Journal talking about Rocky as his 'dog of a lifetime'. Bournemouth Crown Court has now heard how Claridge-Fleming took the dogs out for training in the morning of August 3 2023 - two of his own dogs, while the other two belonged to clients - and returned home at 9am. The four animals were in crates in the boot of his car - two in each compartment - and had water and fresh air from the open doors. At about 10am he was unexpectedly called away to drive his wife and four children to a relative's house and was gone until 4pm, the court was told. When he returned, the car door and boot was shut and three of the dogs had 'perished' - with Claridge-Fleming describing how he tried to cool down the fourth, Rocky, before rushing him to the vet. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals on the basis he was directly responsible for their deaths. Holly Fagan, defending, read out his statement, saying: '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 gundog trials, dogs are routinely kept in crates in the back of vehicles - it is standard practice in the industry. I regret the incident immensely.' Ms Fagan told the court her client was 'deeply sorry' for the loss of the two dogs owned by others. The prosecution said they accepted the basis as there was 'nothing we can disprove' and stated they were not actively seeking a disqualification from keeping animals. The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be carried out, but Claridge-Fleming could be facing jail when he returns to be sentenced in August. The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering is five years in prison. Recorder Richard Onslow told Claridge-Fleming: 'I can't tell you what sort of sentence it will be. There are no promises, no guarantees.'
