Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) advises that Mr John Cauchi has been warned off for life following his conviction by the Court for animal cruelty offences.
In December 2015, Mr Cauchi was sentenced to an 18 month custodial sentence with a non-parole period of nine months after he pleaded guilty to nine counts of serious animal cruelty and live baiting offences.
Following the conviction, GRNSW opened a Stewards Inquiry in which Mr Cauchi was charged under Rule 86B(g) of the Greyhound Racing Rules. Under Rule 86B(1)(g), a person convicted in any Court of an offence in relation to the use of, or having in their possession, any live animal, animal carcass or part of an animal in connection with greyhound training, education or preparation to race, or racing, should be disqualified for a period of not less than 10 years.
Mr Cauchi entered a guilty plea to the charge.
In determining penalty, the Stewards gave consideration to the seriousness of the offence, with an offence under Rule 86B deemed to be one of the most serious offences under the Greyhound Racing Rules.
The Stewards concluded that greyhound racing should not be associated with persons who engage in such abhorrent practices such as live baiting and animal cruelty and, as a result, warned Mr Cauchi off for life.
Under the Greyhound Racing Rules, a person who is warned off is not entitled to hold any registration, licence, certificate or permit issued by GRNSW, and must not enter any racecourse or any place where greyhounds are trained, kept or raced.
