CONVICTED (2016) | Claire Machin (aka Claire Rimmer), born 15 June 1979 with a last known address Collinson Road, Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 5RS – mistreated horses and pet dog
Machin, who is from a notorious family of travellers and horse traders (her mother, Jackie Johnson, went on to be banned for life from keeping horses in 2017) was convicted of causing ‘unnecessary suffering to two horses and a dog’ in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
The RSPCA took Machin to court following two separate complaints regarding her pet shihtzu Coco, and two horses.
RSPCA inspector Charlotte Melvin, who investigated alongside colleague Laura Bryant, said: “We were invited along on a warrant as part of an investigation by Animal Health and found Ms Machin’s dog, Coco. She was very, very thin and vets gave her a body condition score of just one out of five.
“The vet also found a huge bladder stone which she said was the biggest she’d ever seen in comparison to the little toy dog’s size – it took up the whole of her bladder.”
Around a month later, the RSPCA were called again to emaciated ponies in a field.
“Two colts in the field were extremely skinny and the vet who saw them gave them a body condition score of just 0.5 out of five. They were so weak they couldn’t even pick their back legs up to walk.
“We weren’t sure if they were going to make it and, for the first week in our care, one of the little ponies had to be scooped up off the floor several times a day as he didn’t have the strength to stand himself.
“Thankfully, all the animals recovered and are doing amazingly well and can now go on to be rehomed.”
Machin had denied three offences of causing unnecessary suffering – one allegation in relation to the dog and one each in relation to both of the ponies – but was convicted on all counts and sentenced under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.
Sentence: 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months; £1,000 in costs. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.
Updates
2019: Claire Machin is also using the name Mandy Ding on Facebook. The family’s horse trading business continues to operate with Claire Machin’s brother Wayne Sallis playing a key role.
September 2020: Machin appeared in court after being caught driving without a licence or insurance for a second time.