In 2001, Lee Cox was convicted of animal cruelty alongside Roger Stone. According to major media, the conviction involved keeping a 10-year-old cocker spaniel named Adam in terrible conditions. An inspector discovered dogs that appeared to be bald, scabby, and filthy at Kaston Kennels in Mark, Somerset.
Lee Cox and Roger Stone were found guilty of causing suffering to a retired stud dog. Lee Cox and Roger Stone were ordered to pay £5,000 and given a three-year discharge with conditions. They were not banned from keeping dogs.
Lee Cox said he used medication prescribed for another animal to treat Adam's chronic ear problem rather than taking it to the vet. Roger Stone told the court the dog's poor health had kept him indoors for around five years. Adam's condition resulted in him having his inner ear surgically removed.
The specific conditions that led to Adam's poor health and suffering remain unclear. Inspector Jo Daniel said: 'To find a dog in Adam’s condition in a normal house would have been bad enough, but to find one in the care of two internationally renowned dog breeders was shocking. The RSPCA prosecutes without fear or favour.
' There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Lee Cox since the conviction. This year, Lee Cox won Best in Show at Crufts with his four-year-old Clumber spaniel named Bruin. Lee Cox said after the win: 'I can’t believe it.
It’s just wonderful for this breed. He’s the dog of a lifetime. ' A Royal Kennel Club spokesperson said: 'Mr Cox has had an unblemished record in the 25 years since this incident, making a significant positive contribution to the world of dogs.
' How the Royal Kennel Club's disciplinary committee sanctioned Cox, and why it did not warrant disqualification, has not been detailed. Some dog owners have criticized Lee Cox after his win. The details of this criticism from dog owners have not been specified.
The current status or condition of Adam the dog is unknown.