A pair who “dreadfully mistreated” two horses so badly they each died, one weighing simply 82kg, have been banned from maintaining animals and given suspended jail sentences.
Bognor Regis pair Katrina Sullivan, 42, and 36-year-old Jamie Middleton, of Laurel Grove and Felpham Highway respectively, had been sentenced at Worthing Magistrates’ Courtroom on 14 October. Each had pleaded responsible to 2 animal welfare offences.
The courtroom heard that 18-month-old cob Sassy and three-year-old gelding Apollo had been left in fields, in a really poor situation with out veterinary intervention. On 25 October 2023, RSPCA inspector Rebecca Carter met a World Horse Welfare discipline officer at a discipline off Brooks Lane in Bognor.
“Sassy had been present in a steady on the location and he or she appeared gravely unwell,” an RSPCA spokesperson mentioned. “She was emaciated and affected by a tail wound which was infested with maggots.
“Apollo, who was in one other steady, had swollen legs and was unable to face. His backbone, ribs and hip bones had been all seen, whereas his rear finish was lined in diarrhoea.”
In an announcement to courtroom, Ms Carter mentioned that regardless of the 2 rugs Sassy was carrying, she might see her “very poor bodily situation”.
“I might really feel her protruding backbone, ribs and pelvis space,” she mentioned. “She appeared to have misplaced all the muscle in her hind limbs and her tail and rear legs had been lined in foul-smelling diarrhoea.”
Sassy’s proprietor advised the inspector she had discovered the filly mendacity down in a discipline 4 days beforehand however had been unable to get assist as her vet was away and others that she referred to as wouldn’t come out as she had “no cash to pay up entrance and had failed credit score checks”.
“It was mentioned that Sullivan’s daughter left Apollo within the care of her mom and that she was unaware of any issues along with her horse,” the spokesperson mentioned.
A welsh mare and a foal who had been in one other discipline had been in “affordable” situation; all 4 had been signed over to World Horse Welfare.
“Sadly, throughout the time the charity officers had been on the paddocks Sassy handed away,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Apollo was in such poor well being that regardless of receiving intensive remedy he handed away three weeks later at a veterinary hospital.
“A autopsy confirmed that Sassy was emaciated, weighing solely 83kg, and he or she had a heavy parasite an infection in her gastrointestinal tract, which might have led to the load loss, though an absence of meals might have been an element too.”
In mitigation, the courtroom heard Sullivan was remorseful. She had left the equines within the care of her companion, Middleton, who suffered from psychological well being issues and it was mentioned he had “tried his finest, however his look after the animals was incompetent”.
The magistrates advised the defendants that they had “dreadfully mistreated” the equines, however agreed to droop their custodial sentences.
Each had been banned from maintaining animals for 10 years. Sullivan was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for 2 years, Middleton to 14 wees’ jail, suspended for 2 years.
Each had been ordered to pay courtroom prices of £350 and a sufferer surcharge of £154.
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