A woman has been sentenced for abandoning a dilapidated caravan filled with 35 puppies and a dog in Eastbourne, leaving the animals in appalling conditions.
Puppies Found in Dire Conditions
The case came to light on July 26, 2021, when a concerned member of the public reported the caravan on Lister Road Industrial Estate. Sussex Police and RSPCA inspectors forced entry and found a mix of Labradors, Dachshunds, and French Bulldogs living amid filth.
PC Marie Jenner of the Sussex Police Rural Crime Team described the scene:
“The whole floor was covered in faeces and urine-soaked cardboard. There were exposed wires, nails and screws, and broken pieces of wood and tools throughout. The conditions were completely uninhabitable.”
The dehydrated puppies were placed in makeshift pens with water. Fourteen were hospitalised, and one Dachshund sadly died due to starvation and dehydration.
Investigation Leads to Arrest
CCTV revealed the caravan had been towed to the site by a 4×4 vehicle at 3 a.m. The registered owner, 35-year-old Micaela Anderson-Letts from Sunbury-on-Thames, was arrested and charged under the Animal Welfare Act.
Court Sentencing
Anderson-Letts pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals and was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on January 7. Her punishment includes:
- 24 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months
- An animal banning order, lasting indefinitely
- 300 hours of unpaid community work
Police Statement
PC Jenner praised the collaborative effort in resolving the case:
“This has been a complex case involving various agencies. Anderson-Letts showed complete disregard for the judicial system, but after years of hard work, I’m glad justice has been served. These innocent puppies have since been rehomed to loving families.”
