A man has admitted a catalogue of horrific animal cruelty and fraud offences after the remains of more than 40 dogs were discovered at his property, with dozens of pets still unaccounted for.
Guilty Pleas Entered for Catalogue of Offences
Oaveed Rahman, 26, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to 12 criminal charges. The charges relate to causing unnecessary suffering to 21 dogs and one cat. He also admitted 11 separate counts of fraud by false representation.
The investigation began in May last year when officers from Essex Police, alongside RSPCA inspectors and Basildon Council staff, conducted a joint visit to a property in Crays Hill, Billericay. During that visit, they made the grim discovery of 37 dead dogs. Rahman has been held on remand since his arrest, when police raided his property and found the remains of over 40 dogs in total.
Heartbroken Owners and a Campaign for Justice
Despite the scale of the discovery, Rahman was only formally charged in relation to 21 dogs, a fact that campaigners have labelled as 'despicable'. The case revolves around 'Save A Paw UK', an operation Rahman promoted on social media as its 'owner/manager/CEO'.
Hayley Lucas, 47, who drove from Scotland to Essex believing she had found 'the perfect' home for her beloved pup Frank, now fears he is among the dead. Her suspicions grew when the kennels failed to provide promised updates. Reacting to the guilty plea, she said: "I've got mixed feelings, but it is good that he is going to be sentenced and will face justice."
Carla Patrick, 48, who set up the Save A Paw Dogs Campaign Group, stated: "We're still searching for a lot of the missing dogs - and we're worried they will never get justice. It has been a long road to get to this point. The situation has been absolutely devastating for all of us."
Fraudulent Scheme and Sentencing Warning
The court heard that Rahman carried out a string of frauds over more than a year. He falsely claimed to run a charity, told people their dogs had been safely rehomed, and took money under the pretence it would be used to build kennels or for veterinary care, all while making thousands of pounds.
Inspector Steve Parry, leader of the Basildon Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Rahman's treatment of the dogs in his care was abhorrent and he defrauded members of his own community into giving him money to look after them." He added that the investigation had caused significant concern locally.
Judge Samantha Cohen warned Rahman that an immediate custodial sentence was the most likely outcome. She told him: "You have pleaded guilty to what are very serious offences. I don't want you to think that I am promising that the sentence will be anything other than immediate custody."
A separate animal cruelty charge against Rahman's partner, Greta Csikos, 26, was dropped, with prosecutors stating it was no longer in the public interest to proceed. The campaign group expressed disappointment at this decision.
Rahman's defence described him as a 'family man with two young children' with only one prior conviction. He is due to be sentenced on February 20.
