4 days ago
Crufts trainer who left three dogs to die in hot car spared jail
Claridge-Fleming runs Gordleton Gundogs, a training school, and made his debut at Crufts last year with a dog called Ato.
After returning home from training at 9am on August 3 2023, Claridge-Fleming left the dogs an hour later and did not return until 4pm. The three dogs, which also included the trainer's other pet, a cockapoo, died from heatstroke and hyperthermia.
Claridge-Fleming pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals on a basis of plea, denying he was directly responsible for the deaths, but admitting he did leave the dogs unattended for too long.
Rachael Helier, the owner of Milo, said she felt anger towards Claridge-Fleming and that the death of her family's dog had left her young children 'distraught'.
The court heard the trainer first claimed to Ms Helier her dog had only been left unattended for an hour but later said it had been 'a few hours' before finally acknowledging his six-hour absence.
Naomi Williams, a veterinary surgeon, gave evidence that the dogs would have suffered from heatstroke and hyperthermia from not being able to regulate their body temperatures.
'Shocking lack of care'
Holly Hagan, defending, said Claridge-Fleming has five children, including a step-child, who would 'suffer terribly' if he received a custodial sentence.
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 said his 'shocking lack of care' and 'negligence' led to the dogs' deaths.
She added: '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 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.'
