Forest of Dean District Council has prosecuted an individual for offences relating to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
On Tuesday, 16 September 2026, at Cheltenham Magistrates Court, Alex Oakley was sentenced for offences in relation to the Animal Welfare Act. Mr. Oakley pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and of failing to meet the needs of animals in his care.
Mr Oakley is the second defendant in this case, with Deborah Oakley also pleading guilty to offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and sentenced in August 2026.
A warrant was executed at a premises in Ruardean 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, a dog, three cats, three fish and a bird were seized due to concerns about their health and welfare. The co-defendant in this case, 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 and the bird as these belonged to Mr. Oakley.
The bird belonging to Mr. Oakley was found with visible irritation to its head and missing tail feathers.
Mr. Oakley was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 24 months. Applications were made by the prosecution for a Deprivation Order in respect of the cat and the parakeet, 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.
Mr. Oakley was also ordered to pay a contribution of £500 towards the prosecution costs, plus a victim surcharge of £154.
Forest of Dean District Council can confirm that all animals in this case have now either been rehomed or are currently in foster care.
Leader of Forest of Dean District Council, Cllr Adrian Birch said:
“With the second part of this prosecution now complete, I would like to thank the officers, partners and staff involved in investigating this case and bringing this successful prosecution.
“The scale of the investigation, as well as the sentence handed down by the court, shows just how seriously we treat these types of cases.
“The owner, or person caring for an animal, has the responsibility to ensure an animal is protected, kept free from pain and nurtured in a safe environment. If this is found not to be the case, then the team at the Council will work diligently to bring the owners to justice and prevent animals from being subjected to such suffering.
“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]