A man who insisted he was 'too sick' to serve a prison sentence for the brutal mutilation of dogs has been sentenced to 36 weeks behind bars after being caught competing in an amateur boxing match, directly contradicting his health claims.
Courtroom Claims Versus Boxing Ring Reality
Anton Boston, 31, from Ely in Cardiff, admitted to cropping the ears of six animals in what prosecutors described as a deliberate act of cruelty designed to increase their market value. The illegal procedure was performed under appalling conditions, with dogs forced to live surrounded by their own waste.
At a hearing in Cardiff Crown Court, Boston claimed his Crohn's disease rendered him medically unfit to serve any prison time. However, this assertion collapsed when video evidence emerged showing him actively participating in a 'Welsh Combat' amateur boxing event.
Prosecution Exposes Exaggerated Condition
Prosecutors described Boston's portrayal of his health as 'nothing short of exaggerated,' noting that his performance in the boxing bout 'looked very far from the disabled person he presents himself as.' Lee Reynolds, prosecuting, detailed the horrific conditions discovered at Boston's property.
'The smell from the property was so bad that someone had reported a dead body might be within,' Reynolds told the court. 'Dog faeces were all over the floor and there was a strong smell of urine. The dogs had no choice but to stand or lay in it. There was no bedding.'
Reynolds added that the stench was 'chokingly putrid' and so overpowering that police officers found it difficult to breathe while investigating the premises.
Defence Arguments and Judicial Response
Boston's barrister, Adrian Kayne, attempted to explain the boxing participation as a charitable endeavor, claiming the event was organized 'to raise awareness of Crohn's disease' and involved only 'three rounds of very short, two-minute bouts.' Kayne also emphasized Boston's family circumstances, noting he has two young children aged three and two, with a third child expected soon.
'These are important formative years for young children,' Kayne argued. 'He is a devoted father.'
However, Judge Eugene Egan delivered a stern rebuke while sentencing Boston on Thursday. 'These animals’ ears were cropped in order for you to sell them for a higher price,' Judge Egan declared. 'You were trading animals you had caused to suffer through an illegal procedure.'
Substantial Penalties Imposed
In addition to the 36-week prison sentence, Boston received a comprehensive ban from owning or keeping dogs for at least 15 years. The substantial prohibition reflects the severity of the animal welfare offenses and aims to prevent any future mistreatment.
The case has highlighted how defendants may attempt to exploit medical conditions to avoid incarceration, only to be exposed through their own contradictory actions. The emergence of the boxing match footage proved particularly damaging to Boston's credibility before the court.
Animal welfare campaigners have welcomed the sentence as a strong message against illegal breeding practices and deliberate cruelty. The conditions discovered at Boston's property represent some of the most severe neglect cases recently prosecuted in the Cardiff area.
