Man who won Crufts ‘Best in Show’ with his Clumber spaniel Bruin was convicted of animal cruelty after keeping dog in ‘disgusting’ conditions

A dog groomer who won the Crufts Best in Show award on Sunday night has been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a retired stud dog.

Lee Cox won the event’s most prestigious prize in Birmingham thanks to his four-year-old Clumber Spaniel Bruin.

This marked the first time a dog breed had won Best in Show in more than three decades, leaving Cox brimming with pride.

But on Monday it was revealed the keeper was prosecuted by the RSPCA in 2001 after complaints were made about the ‘disgusting’ state of the kennels.

A Royal Kennel Club spokesman confirmed his conviction but said it was an ‘isolated incident’, adding that Cox had ‘an unblemished record in the 25 years since’.

It was revealed that he and his business partner, Roger Stone, had kept a spaniel whose ear became chronically infected, bleeding, ulcerated, oozing pus, and eventually had to be surgically removed.

The court heard when an inspector arrived at the kennel in Somerset he discovered a disgusting odor from dog waste, overflowing sewers and dogs left bald and dirty.

Cox admitted that he did not take the spaniel to the vet and accidentally treated his ear infection with medication intended for another animal.

He and Stone denied the charge of causing unnecessary suffering to the retired Spaniard, but were found guilty and sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs to the RSPCA.

It was revealed that the dog trainer and his business partner, Roger Stone, had kept a spaniel whose ear was chronically infected, bleeding, ulcerated and oozing pus in 2001.

However, they were not banned from keeping dogs and it is claimed that they have bred 48 UK champions and more than 250 world-class prize winners.

Cox’s victory this week sparked outrage; dog owners have questioned why a man convicted of animal cruelty should be given a reward.

A Labrador owner told Sun: ‘Beggars believe they can let this happen. ‘This makes a mockery of the show which is considered the pinnacle of dog lovers across the UK.’

Not only did Cox’s dog Bruin win Best in Show, but the spaniel also won the Gundog group earlier in the event.

Cox said: ‘This is really great, so what can I say? I can’t believe this. Thank you very much.

‘It’s a great thing for the genre… for the first time in my life I’m left speechless.’

He added: ‘He’s just, he’s a dog for life, he really, really is. He’s very, very special. I absolutely adore him. And he adores me.’

He then joked: ‘I think he wants to eat your microphone,’ before gushing: ‘He’s amazing.’

But Cox was not banned from keeping dogs and claims to have bred 48 champions in England and more than 250 prize winners around the world.

The winning dog owner was awarded a replica trophy and £200 cash.

The dog owner was given a replica trophy and £200 cash for winning the competition, which was spearheaded by Claudia Winkleman.

After handing him the trophy, the Traitors host said: ‘The atmosphere when he came out. They loved all dogs, but they loved this one!’

Bruin beat 18,000 dogs to become king of Crufts in Birmingham last night.

A four-year-old Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen named Meghan from Croatia, who had previously won the Hound group, was chosen as the reserve dog.

A Royal Kennel Club spokesman said: ‘Convictions involving animal welfare are always reviewed by the Royal Kennel Club and due consideration will be given to the way the courts deal with such convictions.

‘In this case an appropriate sanction was imposed by the disciplinary committee reflecting the court decision and did not require disqualification.

‘This was an isolated incident 25 years ago. ‘Mr Cox has had an impeccable record in the 25 years since this incident and has made a significant and positive contribution to the world of dogs.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Lee Cox for comment.