The owner of a nightmarish kennel has admitted to animal cruelty and fraud charges after 40 dogs were found dead on site – but dozens of pets remain missing.
Oaveed Rahman, 26, appeared in Basildon Crown Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to 12 criminal charges.
Rahman also admitted to 11 counts of fraud by false representation. These include causing unnecessary suffering to 21 dogs and one cat.
An investigation was launched after officers, with staff from the RSPCA and Basildon Council, found 37 dead dogs during a joint visit to a property in Crays Hill, Billericay, last May.
The 26-year-old has been held on remand since police raided his property in Basildon, Essex.
But despite the discovery of more than 40 hounds, Rahman has only been charged in relation to 21 dogs.
Campaigners said it was ‘despicable’ that he had not been charged in relation to all the dogs found on his property.
Hayley Lucas, 47, is one of the heartbroken owners who believes her dog is among the dead.
Oaveed Rahman describes himself as ‘owner/manager/CEO’ of Save A Paw UK on his Facebook page
Rahman, 26, pleaded guilty to 12 criminal charges when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday
She drove from Scotland believing she had found ‘the perfect’ home for beloved pup Frank – but now fears he is dead.
Ms Lucas said her suspicions were first raised when the person who ‘rescued’ her dog at the kennels – operating under the name Save a Paw – failed to provide updates.
Reacting to Rahman’s guilty pleas, 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, set up the Save A Paw Dogs Campaign Group, which is calling for justice.
She said: ‘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.’
Inspector Steve Parry, leader of Basildon Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: ‘I know this investigation, and the issues it revolves around, has caused a significant amount of concern within our local community.
The court heard that Rahman had carried out a string of frauds over more than a year, falsely claiming he ran a charity, that dogs had been safely rehomed, and that money handed over would be used to build kennels.
Concerned pet lovers had raised questions about the whereabouts of animals, including ‘Ricky’
An investigation was launched after officers, with staff from the RSPCA and Basildon Council, found 37 dead dogs during a joint visit to a property in Crays Hill, Billericay, last May
Frank (above) was sent to Save a Paw by her owner who drove from Essex to Scotland believing she had found the ‘perfect home’ for him
Among the offences he admitted were falsely claiming to rehabilitate animals and charging surrender fees said to be for vet care – all while making thousands of pounds.
An animal cruelty charge against Rahman’s partner, Greta Csikos, 26, was dropped, with prosecutors saying it was no longer in the public interest to continue against her.
The Save A Paw Dogs Campaign Group said it was ‘disappointing’ that Csikos was not charged.
The group added: ‘We have still got more work to do. We’ve still got more missing dogs.’
Judge Samantha Cohen warned Rahman that immediate custody remained the most likely outcome.
She said: ‘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.’
‘We understand the strong feelings of the local community, and people from further afield, who want answers.
‘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.
‘More information will be heard when Rahman is sentenced next month.
‘My team’s investigation has left Oaveed Rahman with no option but to admit the offences against him.
‘He has been on remand since his arrest and now faces a real prospect of a prison sentence.
‘I would like to thank everyone who has shared vital information. Your help has been invaluable and has enabled us to build this case and, ultimately, secure this conviction.’
Rahman’s defence barrister described the defendant as ‘a family man with two young children’ with only one prior conviction for driving whilst disqualified in 2018, aged 17.
He is due to be sentenced on February 20.
