CONVICTED (2018) | Kathryn Showell, born 1957, of Charles Street, Sileby, Loughborough LE12 7SH – caused the death of five horses through a catalogue of neglect.
Showell pleaded guilty to six counts of causing unnecessary suffering and a further 11 charges of failing in her duty of care to ensure the animals’ welfare.
The offences related to a total of 16 ponies over a five-month period between August 2016, and January 2017.
She also admitted a further 11 charges of failing in her duty of care to ensure the animals’ welfare.
The court heard that the defendant kept ponies in fields at five different locations – Leicester Road, Thurcaston; Greengate Lane, Birstall; Cotes Road, Barrow upon Soar; Farnham Close, Rothley, and Station Road, Cropston.
Kevin McCole, prosecuting, said that a vet with several decades’ experience had said the neglect of one pony, which ultimately had to be put down, was “the worst he had ever seen”.
Mr McCole said: “The defendant was known to the RSPCA, who had regularly given her advice concerning the welfare of the ponies in her possession.
“Concerns had been raised previously and culminated in a site visit on June 22, 2016, to a field off Leicester Road, Thurcaston.”
Two senior RSPCA inspectors, a police officer and a vet visited the location, where they spotted more than 20 ponies.
A return visit was made at the start of August 2016 and a formal warning issued after it was found the defendant had failed to provide veterinary treatment for two Shetland ponies named Bobby and Pixie.
The animals, who were in an “emaciated state”, were handed over to the RSPCA several weeks later and examined by a vet.
They were found to have diarrhoea and passed worm balls the “size of tennis balls”.
Blood samples detected a worm infestation in both animals. Bobby was blind and both ponies had ulcers and infections, and teeth that were so rotten and painful that they could not eat properly.
Mr McCole said the neglect in Bobby’s case had probably been going on for “easily two years” and resulted in him being put down.
Cob ponies named Stella and Pearl also had to be put down after being recovered in an emaciated state from a field in Cotes Road, Barrow upon Soar.
Mr McCole said that in Stella’s case a vet reported that she was “emaciated and as thin as a pony can get whilst being able to stand up”.
In an operation carried out by the RSPCA and Leicestershire Police on January 19, 2017, a further 11 of Showell’s ponies found to be “suffering” were removed from five locations, with 19 remaining with the defendant.
Mr McCole said that despite the prosecution against her, it had recently been established that the number of ponies owned by the defendant had since risen to 34.
A probation report read to the court said that despite the defendant’s eventual guilty plea, concerns remained over her apparent inability to accept her wrongdoing and responsibilities for the ponies in her care.
In mitigation, Showell’s solicitor, Kim Lee, said horses were his client’s “whole life” but she had been living “beyond her means”.
He said that while living on state benefits, she would often go without herself in order to feed and water her animals.
Mr Lee described the defendant as someone who was “vulnerable”, “socially isolated” and suffered from depression and anxiety.
He said that she claimed she had also been pressured into buying some of her horses by members of the travelling community but had become overwhelmed by her responsibilities.
District Judge Sally Fudge told Showell that, while she accepted that there was no “intention to cause harm”, her failure to provide proper care to her ponies had caused them terrible suffering.
Sentencing: 14 weeks in prison, suspended for one year; total of £265 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping ponies for just four years (expired March 2022).