Animal cruelty case for former Norfolk councillor adjourned

Richard Seaward was found with a menagerie of dogs, geese and chickens - including puppies that were starved, infected with parasites and kept in appalling conditions.

It followed a raid at the home of the 59-year-old, who had been a long-serving member of Roughton Parish Council at the time.

Dogs being loaded onto a van (Image: Supplied)

Seaward's address in Roughton (Image: Newsquest)

As a result of the North Norfolk District Council-led raid at his home in Orchard Close, Roughton, officials removed 14 dogs of varying breeds and ages, along with a gaggle of geese and a flock of chickens from the property in the village near Cromer.

Seaward appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday (November 10) for sentencing after he previously admitted a raft of charges.

However, no prosecutor was available for the case and the court sentencing hearing was adjourned until December 3.

Seaward's address in Roughton (Image: Newsquest)

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Seaward, who was a former vice-chairman of the council and is no longer a parish councillor, has previously admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, three of failing in a duty to ensure animal welfare, and dog breeding without a licence.

Richard Seaward and his home where the animals were found (Image: Newsquest)

Roughton Parish Council confirmed Seaward was no longer a councillor, with a spokesman stating that "the parish council does not comment on previous councillors".

As previously reported, six dogs had been discovered starving and significantly underweight, others were badly infected, while 11 were being kept in “filth, faecal matter and waste”.

Other animals, including four geese and a chicken, had also not been properly fed or cared for, causing “physical and psychological suffering”.

Dogs removed from Seaward's property by welfare officers, assisted by the police, were of a variety of different breeds and mixes, including husky, Jack Russell, springer spaniels and German Shepherds.

The operation was triggered by complaints about the welfare of animals being kept in poor conditions and illegal breeding and sales practices.

A spokesman for NNDC said: “I can confirm that a warrant was executed by North Norfolk District Council with the support of partner agencies in relation to an ongoing investigation. We cannot comment further at this stage, but the investigation continues.”

Norfolk Police confirmed officers assisted the council to execute a warrant under the Animal Welfare Act, but no force was used and the "householder cooperated fully."

There were initially seven police officers at the scene, but four were quickly redeployed when it became clear they were not needed.

There was also a police dog handler involved.