CONVICTED (2017) | Clifford Roy Johnson, born c. 1953, of Llandeilo Road, Llandybie, Ammanford SA18 3JD – left his horses unattended for five weeks.
Clifford Johnson, who runs an Riverside Animal Feeds and in 2015 stood as a UKIP candidate, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering after his horses were removed from Brynhyfryd Farm by the RSPCA in 2016 following reports from concerned members of the public.
Johnson had three horses which were found to be between 20 and 30 percent underweight, ‘riddled’ with parasites and in pain with hooves which made them lame.
A vet who examined the mares diagnosed them with starvation and said they were suffering under pain and distress.
Magistrates heard how the horses were left in a field devoid of grass and did not have anywhere comfortable to stand or lie down.
Johnson had kept horses for over 20 years but explained to the court that he didn’t trust vets.
He said he was growing the horses’ hooves out ‘to level them’, had been observing them from a 300-metre distance every day and explained he was having trouble with trespassers who he believed had poisoned his horses.
Johnson said: “They seemed fine. I would never in my life ill-treat a horse. I was distraught when I saw what had happened to them.”
RSPCA Inspector Barker, who attended Johnson’s property in December 2016 said the horses had been left to fend for themselves.
After the three mares were taken into RSPCA care, one sadly had to be destroyed.
Within six weeks in their care, the two remaining horses had gained 44kg and 67kg, had their hooves tended to and were free from parasites.
Johnson was found guilty of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to investigate and address the causes of the poor bodily condition and weight loss; failing to properly care for and maintain necessary hoof care; and failing to carry out effective parasite control.
Finding Johnson guilty, Magistrate Mr Parry-Williams said: “You admitted not closely inspecting the horses for a number of weeks.
“The horses weighed 20 to 30 percent less than their ideal weight; they had a chronic infestation of parasites and their hooves had made them lame.
“They suffered as a result of your neglect.”
Sentencing: 150 hours of community service over 12 months,; ordered to pay £835 in court costs and victim surcharge. Banned from keeping horses for just two years (expired September 2019).
CONVICTED (2017) | John Henry Mitchell, born c. 1951, of Portman Crescent, Southbourne, Bournemouth BH5 2ER – for the prolonged neglect of four horses found emaciated and riddled with parasites.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to failing to care for the horses’ needs over seven months.
RSPCA chief inspector Paul Williams said the charity had been aware of Mitchell’s animals for almost three years, giving him advice on their welfare “on many occasions”.
Inspector Williams said: “In March this year, the condition of the horses reached the point where we had no choice but to take things further, after Mr Mitchell had failed to act on our advice so many times.
“We called a vet who examined the horses and certified Oreo, Cookie, Cloud and Sky were suffering ‘prolonged neglect’ caused by months of malnutrition. The vet also confirmed that Cookie was suffering chronic lameness and all were infested by parasites.
“These horses would have been extremely uncomfortable from the excessive lice and worm burdens. Their feet were overgrown which would have made walking really painful, and their body condition was completely unacceptable. It is appalling that Mr Mitchell thought it was appropriate to keep horses in this way.
“He told our inspector that because he was working, he only ever attended the horses in the dark in winter, implying he could not see if any were in poor condition or had injuries, but he had given them food so in his opinion, this was acceptable care.”
The RSPCA said the judge had told Mitchell she could have jailed him for the offences but owing to his age and guilty plea, she gave him a community order in the form of a curfew instead.
Mitchell, who represented himself in court, said he had had horses for 52 years and is of a traveller background, adding that he had “sorted” his horses’ feet once a year.
The four ponies were signed over to the RSPCA’s care to be rehabilitated and re-homed.
Sentencing: eight-week curfew; £385 in costs and charges. Lifetime disqualification for owning horses, but can appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2017) | Angela Wood and husband Malcolm Wood of Popeley Farm Cottage, Muffit Lane, Gomersal, near Cleckheaton BD19 4QS – pleaded guilty to terrible neglect of donkeys and miniature Shetland ponies.
Badly neglected donkeys and ponies found at the home of Malcolm and Angela Wood in Gomersal. The hooves were so long some couldn’t even walk. Bottom right image shows one of donkeys fully recovered from hi ordeal.
Malcolm and Angela Wood both pleaded guilty to a number of offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 when they appeared at Kirklees Magistrates Court in Huddersfield.
Malcolm Wood pleaded guilty to two section 9 offences relating to the poor body condition and lack of appropriate stabling for three Shetland ponies, to have taken place in June 2016, but five charges against him relating to the welfare of the five donkeys were dropped.
Angela Wood pleaded guilty to one section 4 offence relating to the extremely poor state of the donkeys’ hooves and three section 9 offences relating to the inadequate living environment, body condition and lack of worm control of the ponies and donkeys, to have taken place between January 2016 and June 2016.
After initial advice to help improve the conditions from World Horse Welfare, the RSPCA and The Donkey Sanctuary were called to the property in June 2016 over concerns for the welfare of four miniature Shetlands and it became apparent that there were also donkeys at the site.
Some had been neglected to the point that they couldn’t even walk. After a veterinary surgeon certified the five donkeys and three Shetlands to be suffering, a team from World Horse Welfare and the Donkey Sanctuary joined the RSPCA in removing the animals.
RSPCA inspector Samantha Weston said: “The state of the poor ponies was awful, but to then make the discovery of the donkeys was shocking – their hooves were some of the longest I’ve ever seen.
“One was in very poor body condition and several were riddled with worms. Another donkey had to be dug out of his stable because the combination of filthy bedding and faeces had built up so much he couldn’t even be led out of the door.
“I am delighted to hear that the ponies and donkeys that were removed are now doing well in the expert care of the Donkey Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare.”
Sentencing: six-month community order each. Total costs and charges of £185 each. Both were given an indefinite ban on owning all equines
CONVICTED (2014) | riding school owner Tina Hodge, born December 1966, of 11 Cullimore View, Ruspidge, Cinderford GL14 3HP – failed to meet the welfare needs of two horses.
Tina Hodge with Peter Andre. Forest Trekking featured in a 2013 documentary on the singer’s life.
Hodge, owner of Forest Trekking based at Court Farm, Coleford Road, Bream, Lydney GL15 64S, was ordered to pay more than £1,400 in fines and costs after being found guilty of horse cruelty. She was not banned from owning animals.
She was charged with failing to ensure a dark bay horse named Star received veterinary care for an injury and not providing hoof care for a piebald pony called Lucky. Magistrates found her guilty and fined her £220 and ordered her to pay £1,200 in costs.
Star had an untreated rug sore.
The RSPCA was called in March 2013 and inspector Pippa Hodge found Star with an untreated rug sore.
Three months later, in June 2013, Lucky was found at Forest Trekking with feet curled up into “Aladdin’s slippers”. He had not been exercised and had apparently been in his stable for seven months.
Lucky had not received treatment for badly overgrown hooves – which were described as looking like ’Aladdin’s slippers’. He was reported as having been confined to a stable for seven months, and had not been exercised.
Hodge had previously been advised on caring for horses from the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare.
RSPCA inspector Suzi Smith, who investigated Lucky’s case, said: “I am pleased that this case has now been resolved.
“The defendant said that Lucky was difficult to catch and that’s why his hooves were in such an awful state, but we managed to catch and load him onto transport, as well as trim his hooves, quite easily.
“There can be no excuse for someone who keeps horses not to provide them with the most basic care to meet their needs and that includes ensuring they receive veterinary care and farriery when they need it.
“If they can’t cope with this they need to seek help.”
World Horse Welfare field officer Phil Jones said: “This case is sadly typical of the types of cases we deal with.
“We regularly see owners who have more horses than they can cope with meaning that the animals do not get the level of care and attention they need and the situation can escalate into a welfare problem.
“World Horse Welfare would always advise that if horse owners are feeling overwhelmed or need help coping they should get in touch early, ask for help and try to follow the guidance given to ensure that the best option is taken for horse welfare.”
Both Lucky and Star were rehomed following their recovery.
Hodge’s re-application to offer horses for riding at Court Farm was overshadowed by a public campaign against the council granting her a licence – a campaign that began soon after her conviction in April 2014, and which included internet petitions gathering signatories, and a handbill which was distributed around the Forest.
The handbill read: “Horse neglect. Tina Hodge still continues running Forest Trekking from Court Farm, Bream – after conviction (she is) still in ownership of 35 badly kept horses. Stop this suffering. Support our campaign.”
The re-application was for a total of eight, named, horses. The Licensing Committee reported that they had received five emails and two letters asking that Hodge’s licence not be renewed, and one letter in support of the application.
Animal rights campaigners in the area were quick to applaud the decision, with one group, ’Forest of Dean Animal Rights’ releasing the following statement:
“We applaud the decision of the Forest of Dean District Council to deny convicted animal abuser Tina Hodge a licence to run her trekking business.
“Her continued trading was another stain on the Forest of Dean, that she will be no longer allowed to trade is a step in the right direction.”
Update November 2021
Sadly it would appear that the decision not to grant Tina Hodge a Riding Establishment Licence was later reversed and Forest Trekking continues to trade in 2021. There are allegations that Hodge continues to show scant regard for the welfare of the horses in her care with reports of animals being up to their knees and mud and a yearling being found dead. There has also been criticism of the local authority with suggestions that they are turning a blind eye to Hodge’s alleged cruelty.
Update May 2022
Tina Hodge was ordered to pay almost £4,000 in court costs after admitting she endangered the health of nine horses by failing to unwrap their hay bales properly, putting them at risk of swallowing plastic.
Hodge pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on May 11, 2022, to failing to take steps to ensure that the needs of the horses on land opposite Court Farm, Coleford rd, Bream, were met on 5th March 2021
As well as being ordered to pay prosecution costs of £3,900 and a victim services surcharge of £22, Hodge was also given a three-year conditional discharge.
The charge which she admitted was brought under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and stated that she “did fail properly to remove all plastic wrapping and netting from the hay bales deposited as food requiring the horses to rip the plastic wrapping netting in order to eat, causing a health risk to the horses by ingesting small amounts of plastic.”
Hodge denied two further similar animal welfare charges which were dismissed after the prosecution offered no evidence
One of those charges was that she failed to muck out the stables “causing four horses to stand in excessive faecal waste of approximately two feet in height and failed to provide the horses with access to fresh water.”
The other alleged that the needs of three horses were not met “in that the horses were standing in an excessive amount of faeces and wet straw that had not been mucked out for some time, with wet bedding due to large holes in the roof and no visible access to drinking water.”
Hodge had denied all three charges against her but admitted one of them on the scheduled day of trial and the others were then not proceeded with.
The magistrates said her credit for pleading guilty was reduced because of the lateness of plea.
CONVICTED (2013) | Evan Lloyd Evans, born c. 1944, of Pencarth Uchaf Farm, Chwilog, Pwllheli LL53 6SW – caused unnecessary suffering and failed to meet the welfare needs of 51 Welsh mountain ponies.
Horse breeder Evan Lloyd Evans was found guilty of keeping 51 horses in appalling conditions at Cricieth Stud, Pwllheli.
The court heard RSPCA officers visited the stud farm on 27 June 2012, and a vet put nine horses to sleep due to untreatable hoof conditions and to prevent further suffering.
Another 50 horses were removed.
Of the 59 horses discovered at Pencarth Uchaf, Chwilog, near Pwllheli only five were found to have normal hooves.
The court was shown harrowing videos made by the RSPCA and the World Horse Welfare charity showing the poor state of the animals’ feet and their living conditions.
Other charges dealt with allegations Evans failed to provide adequate bedding and exposed the horses to hazards.
The court heard the floor in all the sheds were covered in dirty hay. In most of the sheds there were pieces of broken agricultural equipment on which the horses could injure themselves.
The fencing around the pens was makeshift and in a poor state.
RSPCA inspector Mark Roberts said: “The conditions we found at Cricieth Stud were appalling and completely inappropriate for the ponies kept there.
“Many of them had acute problems with their feet and other serious health issues.
“We had been alerted to the fact there were many ponies in unsuitable conditions but did not expect to have to remove 50 of them on veterinary advice.
“In addition the vets also advised that nine had to be put to sleep as sadly their condition was so extreme there was no other way to alleviate their suffering.”
“It was an extremely bad situation made worse by the fact that many of the ponies were virtually unhandled making any necessary treatment incredibly difficult to carry out.”
Nigel Weller, for Evans, said: “He has devoted his life to breeding horses and he is quite proud of what he has achieved with horses which bear the Criccieth prefix. He is quite well known and his animals are desired and he is anxious the bloodline is protected.”
He said the situation had existed at the farm for only a short time and was exacerbated by Evans’ poor health and lack of help.
He told the court the number of horses at the farm had been reduced by two-thirds and the remainder transferred to his daughter who lives nearby and who will be able to care for them with assistance from other family members.
Inspector Roberts said the case highlighted how “over breeding and overstocking can spiral out of control”.
“This is a fair sentence and sends a strong message to all horse owners and breeders that they must put the welfare of their horses before all else,” he added.
Tony Evans, north and mid Wales field officer for World Horse Welfare, said: “It saddens me to think that all the help and advice that was given to the owner failed to have any significant effect.
“As our main priority has to be the welfare of the ponies, we had no choice than to involve the RSPCA to undertake stronger measures.
“In many of the situations we deal with, long and costly prosecution cases can often be avoided if the owner follows the advice given by World Horse Welfare field officers and takes appropriate action.”
The judge was told that looking after the horses since June 2012 had cost the RSPCA £300,000 but that Evans had no money.
Jailing Evans Judge Andrew Shaw said: “For many years you were an owner, keeper and breeder of Welsh mountain ponies. I am treating this as a medium term period of neglect. You ignored warnings and nine animals were in such a poor condition they were euthanised. These are particularly serious offences.”
Sentencing: jailed for 10 weeks. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires November 2023).
Despite Evan Lloyd Evans’ ban on keeping animals still being in force, he was found to have 91 ponies on his land. The ponies were being kept in poor conditions causing suffering to dozens of them.
Evans pleaded guilty to 10 Animal Welfare Act offences and was given a 20-week suspended jail term.
The prosecution followed a multi-agency operation at Evans’ farm in September 2020, after reports horses and other animals were being kept in poor conditions, and – in the case of the ponies – in breach of a pre-existing 10-year ban handed to Evans in 2013.
Video footage shown to the court revealed the conditions at the farm and showed horses stood in filthy, dark and hazardous conditions.
Dozens of horses and other animals were kept in outbuildings, barns and fields in highly inappropriate conditions, with faeces everywhere – and even a bucket of dead rats, the RSPCA said.
The court heard Evans kept 91 ponies in illegal conditions which were unhygienic and not free from hazards.
Vets felt dozens of the horses had suffered unnecessarily – including one, a Welsh Section A pony, who had not received appropriate veterinary care for a broken leg; and another four Section A ponies who had not been given vet attention for lameness. Evans also failed to ensure six of his ponies had appropriate treatment for parasites.
A pony had a severe facial deformity which had gone unchecked. A total of 28 of the ponies suffered as a consequence of Evans’ failure to secure appropriate dental care, while a further eight were also deemed to have suffered through not receiving appropriate hoof care.
In addition to the suspended jail term, Evans was banned from keeping horses and poultry for 20 years, fined £1,000 fine and a £128 victim surcharge.
Evans admitted breaching the previous 10-year ban from keeping equines. His ban was extended by the magistrates and will now continue until 2041.
CONVICTED (2013) | Walter Hickman (now deceased), wife Amanda ‘Mandy’ Hickman, born 4 December 1963, and their son Kevin ‘Squidge’ Hickman, born 10 September 1989, of Wallows Road, Brierley Hill DY5 1PH – kept four horses in conditions the RSPCA called “medieval”.
Mandy Hickman and son Kevin Hickman were jailed and banned for life from keeping horses. Walter Hickman, who was prosecuted alongside them and also sent to prison, died in 2016.
Mandy and Walter Hickman and their son Kevin were told by a judge they showed no remorse and were in denial bordering on arrogance.
The trio pleaded guilty to a total of 44 charges under the Animal Welfare Act in connection with four horses recovered from Fens Pool Nature Reserve.
RSPCA prosecutor Nick Sutton said: “These horses were treated in a way which displayed a total lack of knowledge of horse care, they were in an appalling state – close to death.
“They were tethered and suffering with parasites, their hooves needed to be attended to.
“These people should not be near horses or any other animals.”
The case began when RSPCA inspectors were called to the Hickmans’ home in June 2011 to find a foal collapsed in a horse box on the property. The animal, which was just weeks old and unable to reach his mother to feed, could not be saved and was later destroyed.
Due to his age the foal’s plight could not form part of the case against the Hickman family, however evidence was gathered involving four other animals which were seized by animal welfare workers at the Brierley Hill nature reserve.
The Hickmans, including wheelchair-bound Walter, pictured outside court in 2013
The Hickmans’ solicitor, Stephanie Brownlees, told the court her clients’ level of care fell short but they loved the horses and were “shell shocked” by their loss.
She added Kevin, who suffered with cancer as a child and had a long-term memory condition, “went there several times a day to feed them, he did feel he was doing all he could”.
Miss Brownlees said: “The defendants appear to have bitten off more than they could chew, they were ignorant of appropriate levels of care, with the issue of horses being thin they felt they could deal with it by feeding them more.”
District judge Michael Wheeler banned all three from keeping horses for life and jailed Amanda for 16 weeks and Kevin for 18 weeks. He also jailed wheelchair-bound Walter for 18 weeks.
The judge told the trio: “You intended to plead not guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence and ran up a huge legal bill. We allowed for a three day trial and you waited until the first morning to plead guilty.”
Kevin Hickman and his mother Mandy Hickman are pictured leaving court in 2013.
District Judge Wheeler added: “These horses were in an appalling state, with pest infestations and sores, they hadn’t been hooved properly, they were emaciated and near death. Some had been tethered, some with access to grass and water that was inadequate, and they had been checked infrequently.
“I’m told you’ve been shocked by this prosecution and you are angered and upset by the loss of your horses. What I hear from this is you only think of yourselves.
“Even when these horses were seen and seized by the authorities, you showed no willingness to sign them over. None of you has shown a shred of remorse or responsibility. Your level of denial borders on arrogance.
“This was a case of long-term neglect, and it’s a miracle these animals have survived.”
Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Paul Seddon said: “These horses were kept in medieval conditions. We have had numerous dealings with this family, you come to a point where you offer advice to them and they seem incapable or unwilling to take it.”
Sentencing: custodial. Lifetime bans on owning, keeping or being involved with horses.
