CONVICTED (2017) | Simon J Nall, born c. 1997, of Stanhope Road, Swadlincote DE11 9BG – left his piebald colt horse to die an agonising death
Simon Nall did not attend to his piebald colt horse named Storm for several months and pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to prevent another person from causing unnecessary suffering.
The court was told Nall owned Storm, who was kept with four other horses belonging to his mother, Julia Nall, and sister Rachel Nall, in a field in Valley Road, Overseal. Julia and Rachel Nall were prosecuted separately and convicted for their part in the cruelty.
The horse appeared to have been dead for some days when found and there were signs to suggest that he had struggled in his last few days before he passed away.
A pile of faeces under his tail suggested he had been in that position for some time.
He was underweight and was in a poor condition. His hooves were 14 to 20 centimetres long and he had been suffering from chronic laminitis.
A vet concluded it would have taken several months for Storm to get in that state.
The court was told that, in interview, Nall admitted he did not go and see Storm very often and could not remember the last time he saw him.
Derby Magistrates’ Court chairman of the bench Philip Hickson said: “This is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty this bench has seen. It was your responsibility to prevent this. You made no attempt to check on the animal and you showed no remorse.
“You accept now that you were personally responsible for the agonising death of this animal.”
Nall’s solicitor John McGregor said in court that Nall believed his mother, Julia Nall – who he did not live with – had been looking after Storm and so he did not attend to him regularly.
Sentencing: 18-week prison sentence suspended for two years; 250 hours of unpaid work; three-month curfew; total of £515 costs and charges. Lifetime disqualification on keeping equines.