Forest of Dean District Council has prosecuted an individual for offences relating to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
On Tuesday, 18 August 2026, at Cheltenham Magistrates Court, Deborah Oakley was sentenced for offences in relation to the Animal Welfare Act. Ms. Oakley pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to one dog and three fish and of failing to meet the needs of animals in her care.
A warrant was executed at a premises in Ruardean occupied by Ms. Oakley on 26 March 2025, by officers of the Council’s Street Warden team and Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit, with assistance from Gloucestershire Police. Officers found overwhelming evidence of poor hygiene and an accumulation of waste throughout the property with animals confined in conditions consistent with neglect, causing suffering over a long period of time.
During the operation, the dog, along with three cats, three fish and a bird were seized due to concerns about their health and living conditions. Ms. Oakley was present and informed of the seizure. She subsequently agreed to sign over ownership of the dog and two of the cats to the Council, but refused to sign over the male cat, the bird and the fish.
Ms. Oakley was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 24 months. Applications were made by the prosecution for a Deprivation Order for the fish remaining in foster care, as well as a Disqualification Order from owning, keeping and participating in the keeping of any animal for five years, both Orders were granted by the Court. She was also ordered to pay a contribution of £500 towards the prosecution’s costs, plus a victim surcharge of £154.
The second defendant in this case has also pleaded guilty to offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and is due to be sentenced next month.
Leader of Forest of Dean District Council, Cllr Adrian Birch said:
“I would like to thank everyone involved in investigating this case and bringing this successful prosecution. We must all do everything we can to prevent animals from being subjected to such suffering.
“The owner, or person caring for an animal, has the responsibility to ensure the animal is protected, kept free from pain and nurtured in a safe environment.
“The team at Forest of Dean District Council do a fantastic job of ensuring that animals in our district are looked after properly and will hold those accountable should they find any animal has been mistreated. Today’s sentencing should stand as a testament to this.
“If you have any welfare concerns for animals that you are aware of, please do not hesitate to contact our street warden team at [email protected].”
The prosecution was brought by Officers in the Council's Street Warden Team, assisted by the Council’s Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU) and Legal team.
Members of the public can contact the team with any concerns about animal welfare by email at [email protected] or the CFEU by email at [email protected]