CONVICTED (2017) | John Declan Ashurst-O’Shaughnessy, born 14 October 1994, of Bolton Road, Atherton, Manchester M46 and Lorraine Ashurst, born c. 1964, of 113 Cameron Street, Leigh WN7 5EA – for the mistreatment of three young horses.
Lorraine Ashurst and her son John Declan Ashurst-O’Shaughnessy were both found guilty of four offences under the Animal Welfare Act which took place between January and March 2017 at Barlows Farm on Close Lane in Hindley, Wigan.
Concerns had been raised about a number of horses which had been left on the land, with some causing problems for motorists by wandering out onto nearby roads. RSPCA inspectors left notes, after visiting in February 2017, before arranging follow-up visits.
The ponies, a Palomino mare, a chestnut gelding and a grey mare, had different injuries such as foot abscesses, laminitis and osteoarthritis, which were not addressed by the pair.
Charity inspectors felt their condition had deteriorated as they had not been placed on a satisfactory worming regime.
Sentencing:
John Declan Ashurst O’Shaughnessy – 12 month community order to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Total of £1,085 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping any animals for five years, later reduced to two years on appeal. Deprivation order was placed on the three ponies, with a foal also born to the grey mare. Later appealed, unsuccessfully.
A warrant was issued for Lorraine Ashurst’s arrest when she failed to appear for sentencing.
Update | July 2018
In July 2018 John Declan Ashurst-O’Shaughnessy saw his appeal against conviction and sentence, for three offences of causing unnecessary suffering, dismissed.
His sentence of 150 hours of community service, with £1,000 costs and £85 victim surcharge, was confirmed by the court.
But his disqualification from keeping animals, which had been five years, was reduced to just two (expired 2020).
Update | January 2020
On 23 January 2020 Wigan Today reported that Lorraine Ashurst had still not received her court punishment – more than two years after her conviction.
Ashurst, who was represented by Clive Rees, was due to be sentenced for three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, and two counts of failing to surrender to police bail. A further warrant was issued for her arrest.
Justices had tried to sentence Ashurst on two occasions following her conviction, in August and September 2018, only for her not to attend court on both dates.
The hearing was told that she had attended court on January 16, 2020, only for the case to be adjourned once again until this week when once again, she was a no-show without notifying the court or her solicitor.
Source: Wigan Today (article removed).
Update | February 2024
Lorraine Ashurst was finally sentenced for her part in the neglect of the three ponies.
She had pleaded not guilty to mistreating the animals on Barlow’s Farm at Hindley but was convicted by magistrates after a trial.
RSPCA prosecutors had brought charges in relation to a Palomino mare, a chestnut gelding and a grey mare, who were each found with injuries after inspectors visited the site off Close Lane.
The court heard that Ashurst failed to take medical measures that would ease the horses’ suffering and also neglected to seek parasitic worm control treatment for them.
Sentencing had been due to take place on several occasions in 2023, but Ashurst failed to appear in court each time. Ultimately an arrest warrant was issued and she was brought back before the courts on 12 February 2024.
She had also been charged with bail breaches but these were dropped because it was decided that they wouldn’t serve the interests of justice.
Sentencing | 10 days of rehabilitation activities; told to pay a fine, court costs and a victim services surcharge totalling £840. She is barred from keeping animals for two years (expires February 2026).