War Zone Comparisons as Fireworks Terrify Village
The tranquil South Downs village had not witnessed such disruption since the Second World War, when a stray Luftwaffe bomb caused £200 damage to the local school. Eight decades later, residents say the latest disturbance came from a much closer source - their new neighbour, multi-millionaire Pets Corner CEO Dean Richmond.
Last weekend, the 52-year-old businessman hosted a professional fireworks display at his £4 million seven-bedroom country estate in West Sussex. While Richmond claimed the spectacle lasted just six minutes, the fallout continues to reverberate through the community a week later.
Locals described the intensity as resembling a battlefield, with one resident stating: 'The bangs were so loud that they went through your chest. It was like a war zone.' An elderly woman in her 80s was so startled she believed someone was breaking into her home, while another neighbour thought there had been a plane crash.
Animal Tragedy and Corporate Hypocrisy
The most severe impact was felt by the village's pets and livestock. Dog owners reported animals 'vomiting', 'losing control of their bowels' and displaying extreme distress. Horses suffered particularly badly, with some panicking so severely they damaged fences and gates while careering around fields.
Tragically, one horse was reportedly left so badly injured it had to be euthanised. The owner described finding the animal injured in its paddock the morning after the display, with her three daughters witnessing the heartbreaking scene.
The situation was compounded by Richmond's position as head of Pets Corner, a retail chain billing itself as the UK's 'leading ethical pet retailer'. Ironic timing saw the company post online guidance about keeping animals calm during firework season just days before Richmond's display - advice that was promptly deleted after the event.
One local whose rescue dog was terrified noted the hypocrisy: 'Someone who is the leader of a business that claims to be ethical and care about pets should perhaps review his personal ethics.'
Backlash and Belated Apology
Matters escalated when a local woman confronted Richmond at his property about the chaos unfolding in her stables. She claimed he responded by laughing and stating: 'No, I don't need to let anyone know, it's my land, it's my property, I can do what I want.'
As news spread beyond the village, pet lovers vowed to boycott Pets Corner stores on review site Trustpilot. One reviewer wrote: 'If this company feels having an individual in charge who shows so little care and concern of animals is suitable, then they are not a business for me.'
Facing mounting criticism, Richmond issued a grovelling apology on the village Facebook group. He expressed being 'deeply saddened' about the horse's death and accepted he should have warned more neighbours, promising never to hold another fireworks display. However, he denied laughing at the resident and questioned whether his display directly caused the horse's injury, noting other fireworks occurred in the area that evening.
Pets Corner later distanced itself from the event, calling it a private matter while defending Richmond's animal-loving credentials, citing his upbringing on a smallholding and family tradition of bonfire events.
The controversy comes during a turbulent period for Richmond, who is currently embroiled in a £100 million divorce battle with his wife Karen Koramshai and has since begun a relationship with model Sarah Louise Wiffen, who attended the fateful fireworks party.
