For years, people took sick animals to Cliff Spedding, believing he would do his best for them. In many cases, they were condemning the sick and injured to a miserable death. Claire Burbage reports on the man who just couldn't say no.

IT was a knock at the door Clifford Spedding thought would never happen.

Not a stranger to unexpected visitors arriving at his home any time of the day or night - often accompanied by a stray dog or an injured bird - Spedding was bewildered when he opened his door to a police officer and an RSPCA inspector.

It was March 15, last year, and the Hope Animal Sanctuary was being raided by RSPCA inspectors.

They seized dozens of animals including ducks, chickens, hens, geese, a jackdaw, macaws, doves, herring gulls, finches, quails, budgies, pigeons, skunks, seagulls, a dog and a tortoise.

When he recovered from the shock, Spedding told The Northern Echo: "I have no idea what is going on. It is something to do with the wild animals."

News of the raid quickly spread throughout the Loftus community. It wasn't long before friends rallied round to show their support, grumbling as the RSPCA officers packed away animals and using their vehicles to block the driveway to the press.

At Spedding's initial court appearances at Guisborough Magistrates' Court, supporters stood outside telling anyone who would listen how unfair the proceedings were.

The Northern Echo also received letters and phone calls of support.

Spedding said: "I am very grateful for all the support local people have shown me, but I am not sure whether I will carry on.

"Recently, things have got on top of me. I have had constant break-ins, animals killed by vandals and pens and sheds damaged.

"It really takes the heart out of you."

For years, Spedding has been well known for his work at Loftus Bank.

Although it was not given its official name until ten years ago, the Hope Animal Sanctuary has been in existence for more than 20 years.

From the age of 12, Spedding began taking in sick and injured animals at home in Skinningrove, east Cleveland. "I would take in anything," he recalled. "Sea-birds, wild birds, anything."

With his collection of animals rapidly growing, the family moved to the premises in Loftus.

In April 2000, volunteers from the sanctuary were put forward for the Whitbread Volunteer Action Awards 2000. At the time, an awards spokesman said: "The nomination comes in recognition of the shelter's outstanding contribution to the community of Cleveland through the provision of care and shelter for unwanted and stray animals."

Over the years, the centre has also fallen prey to a number of vandal attacks.

Perhaps the most horrific came in 2002, when two wallabies were found beheaded.

Spedding said he feared Devil worshippers could have been responsible for the attacks.

Speaking the day before his trial, Spedding was far more relaxed and at ease with the situation than he was in the March when police first called.

He said: "I am not worried. I am not even bothered at all. I don't think I am in the wrong.

"It all started off about me having wild birds, because that is illegal, but no one else would take them. I know that it is against the law, but I just take them and then release them."

The court was to hear a different story, that dispelled the notion of the Dr Dolittle-type character.

As the prosecution opened its case, it became clear the magnitude of the situation. Details of a "private area" where "all the rubbish" was kept were unveiled to the court.

John Ellwood, prosecuting, said: "In that area, the defendant keeps animals in appalling conditions and where in those conditions they are left to suffer."

No mitigation was given, apart from one answer in Spedding's police interview where he admitted: "I have just been having a bad time and just never got round to doing a lot of things round there. Everything just got on top of me."

It will not be known until he is sentenced, the events leading up to his demise, so, for now, it is left to speculation as to how a man who spent a lifetime caring for sick and abandoned animals ended up in court facing a mass of animal cruelty charges.