LESLIE JOHN PRECEY – CLYDEBANK, WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE

Leslie John Precey, currently of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire G81 for cruelty to a cat found emaciated and riddled with fleas.

Precey, who is originally from Basingstoke, Hampshire, subjected the young cat, to inexcusable neglect over a period of at least two months.

In September 2024, the Scottish SPCA (SSPCA) received a call from a vet with concerns for the three-year-old cat, known as Ursula, after her owner, Precey, brought her into the surgery.

Examination showed she was covered in fleas and severely anaemic She had lost large patches of her hair, and her skin was raw, thickened and inflamed. She was also extremely emaciated and, in the words of the vet, “a bag of bones”.

Despite the vet’s best efforts, she was humanely euthanised after falling into a state of unconsciousness.

Precey was already known to the SSPCA afer an inspector visited his home in November 2023 following a call to the charity’s helpline regarding the welfare of four cats at his address.

He was provided with support and advice on how to properly care for his pets but no further action was taken against him..

Then in September 2024 they were contacted by Precey’s vet regarding Ursula.

The vet said: “Ursula’s case is one of the worst examples of neglect I’ve encountered in my long career. She was literally just a bag of bones covered with diseased skin.

“Her body temperature was so low that it didn’t register on the thermometer, she was emaciated and profoundly anaemic. Most of her body was missing fur, her skin was raw, flea dirt was everywhere, and fleas were swarming her body.”

The vet added: “Ursula’s death was totally avoidable. Her cause of death was severe anaemia caused by the swarm of fleas draining her life blood away over a period of several weeks.
“Any reasonable pet owner would not have watched an animal visibly and very obviously decline over a period of probably several months and not seek veterinary attention until that animal was collapsed and dying, especially after already receiving advice and guidance.”

Of Precey’s three other cats seen during the SSPCA’s visit of November 2023, two had already been rehomed while a third was taken into the care of the SSPCA.

Sentenced to a community payback order with 180 hours of unpaid work. Five-year ban (expires February 2031).