In a stunning victory at the Crufts dog show on Sunday night, Lee Cox, a dog handler, clinched the Best in Show award, thanks to his exceptional Clumber spaniel, Bruin. This win was particularly significant, marking the first time in over thirty years that a Clumber spaniel has taken home this prestigious title, filling Cox with immense pride.

However, a shadow was cast over his triumph when it emerged on Monday that Cox had a past conviction for animal cruelty. Back in 2001, he faced prosecution by the RSPCA after reports highlighted the deplorable conditions of his kennels.

The Royal Kennel Club acknowledged his conviction but emphasized that this was a singular occurrence. They noted that Cox has maintained an impeccable record for the past 25 years, suggesting that his earlier misstep was not indicative of his overall career.

The 2001 case revealed that Cox and his partner, Roger Stone, were responsible for the suffering of a spaniel with a severely infected ear. The dog’s condition was so dire that it was bleeding, ulcerated, and emitting pus, eventually necessitating surgical removal.

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

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

A court heard that when an inspector arrived at their Somerset-based kennel, he discovered a putrid smell from dog waste, overflowing drains and dogs left bald and dirtied. 

Cox admitted that he did not take the spaniel to the vet and had mistakenly treated its ear infection with medication meant for another animal. 

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

Lee Cox (pictured with his dog), whose Clumber spaniel Bruin won Crufts Best in Show award, has a previous conviction for animal cruelty 

It was found that the dog handler and his business partner Roger Stone kept a spaniel with a chronically infected ear that was bleeding, ulcerated and oozing pus in 2001

They were, however, not banned from keeping dogs and claim to have produced 48 UK champions and more than 250 award winners worldwide. 

Cox’s victory this week has sparked fury, with dog owners questioning just why a man with a conviction for animal cruelty should be handed an award. 

A Labrador owner told The Sun: ‘It’s beggars belief they could let this happen. It makes a mockery of the show, which is regarded as the pinnacle for all lovers of dogs UK-wide.’

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

Cox said: ‘It’s just amazing, I mean, what can I say? I can’t believe it. Thank you so much.

‘It’s just wonderful for this breed… for the first time in my life, I’m speechless.’

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

He then joked that ‘I think he wants to eat your microphone’, before gushing ‘he’s just wonderful’. 

Cox was however not banned from keeping dogs and claims to have produced 48 UK champions and more than 250 award winners worldwide

The dog owner was handed a replica trophy and £200 in cash for winning the competition

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

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

Bruin beat 18,000 other dogs to be crowned king of Crufts in Birmingham last night.

A four-year-old Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen named Meghan, from Croatia – who earlier won the Hound group – was named reserve dog.

A Royal Kennel Club spokesperson said: ‘Convictions involving animal welfare are always reviewed by the Royal Kennel Club and due reflection will be given to the way the courts treat such convictions. 

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

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

The Daily Mail has contacted Lee Cox for comment.