CONVICTED (2023) | Jack Woods aka Jax Woods, born 5 July 2001, of 10 Cosens Way, Felpham, Bognor Regis PO22 8FG but with links to Boston, Lincolnshire – physically abused three horses and psychologically abused another in brutal attacks.
Shocking footage showed Woods whipping, and slapping different horses. He is also shown threatening a horse with a whip on several occasions. The incidents took place at Mabrook Equestrian Centre in Boston, Lincolnshire, which Woods ran with girlfriend Charlotte Martin.
Speaking about the case, an expert vet said: “The horses in these clips are no less than absolutely terrified.
“The horses desperately try to escape from him and display severe fear, escapism and avoidance behaviours – equines are flight or fight animals as they are prey species these horses in these videos are displaying complete flight behaviour.
“Unreasonable force and his actions are nothing short of barbaric and cruel and are used due to the lack of his own ability to both handle and ride horses.”
“He causes them intense fear and distress by both his actions and his body language.
“He is observed on the video to repeatedly beat the different horses around the head and neck predominantly but also the body.
“There is very little in the way of soft tissue covering on the head as such the blows were almost directly to the bone which is painful.”
Woods pleaded guilty to attacking the horses in Boston, Lincolnshire, admitting counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the three horses and inflicting psychological abuse on the fourth horse.
He also admitted failing to avoid the use of inappropriately harsh, potentially painful and frightening training, handling, control or disciplinary measure of all four horses.
RSPCA lead investigator Andy Bostock said: “These videos are disturbing and heart breaking to watch and you can see that the horses are in fear.
“The defendant’s behaviour is unacceptable, extremely aggressive, extremely unnecessary and has led to the horses within the video being caused fear, distress and pain and suffering.”
Sentencing | 26-week suspended prison sentence; rehabilitation activities; 200 hours of unpaid work; £2,100 in costs. Disqualified from owning horses for 18 months (expires early 2025).
CONVICTED (2022) | Brett James White, born 25 February 2003, of Horsham Lodge, Horsham Road, Littlehampton BN17 6BU – for beating a dog.
Brett James White, who has a previous conviction for criminal damage, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by beating a dog in Littlehampton on May 16, 2022.
These are the dogs White owns with his partner. It’s not known if either of these was the victim in this case.
The condition of his victim wasn’t reported but it appears that he was not given a ban on keeping animals. This surely leaves the two cockerpoo-type dogs owned by White and his girlfriend Honey-Jane Keet-White at serious risk of harm next time he loses it.
Sentencing | community injunction requiring 120 days of abstinence from alcohol; monitoring and rehabilitation activity; £85 in expenses.
CONVICTED (2022) | breeder Jay Clarke, born 29 January 1955, of 10 Black Dog Walk, Northgate, Crawley RH10 8HL – for cruelty to 14 poorly dogs kept in squalor.
Jay Clarke pictured in around 2010
Jay Clarke, described in court as an experienced breeder who had shown dogs, was banned from keeping animals for life after being convicted of a string of cruelty charges relating to 14 dogs. Her conviction followed that of her co-accused, husband Gordon Clarke, in January 2022.
RSPCA officers visited the Clarkes’ home in Black Dog Walk on April 6, 2021 after concerns were raised about the welfare of a large number of animals living at the home.
Sussex Police obtained a warrant and officers returned on April 8 with an independent vet. A total of 16 dogs and two cats were seized and were later signed over for rehoming by the RSPCA.
RSPCA inspector Tony Woodley, who led the investigation, said in his witness statement: “The interior of the house was dimly lit. The ‘living room’ area with a sofa and very large TV was accessible by the cats, Rottweilers and chihuahuas. There were food and water bowls in this area.
“To the rear of this was an area of approximately 4m x 2.5m which contained the spaniels. This area had a strong smell and the walls and floor were stained with either faeces or dirt or a mixture of the two.
“There was a human bed in this area with a mattress. The mattress was stained brown and there were blankets on it which were also brown and covered in faeces or mud.
“The floor had concrete missing in places and two dogs were cowering in the area where a draw was missing from a wooden chest of drawers.
“There were no water or food bowls in this area. In this area I saw packs of dog food but this was not accessible to the dogs.
“I was alarmed by the condition of many of these animals and there seemed to be a general lack of care for these animals. The spaniels looked like they had been roughly de-matted with a sharp implement and some of these dogs had open wounds.”
The vet checked all of the animals and found many of them had untreated dental disease, ear infections, eye conditions and skin problems, while some were lame and one had infected wounds.
Two of the spaniels were considered by the vet to be in a ‘severe condition’ including a female brown spaniel, called Betty who was rushed to vets for emergency treatment.
Inspector Woodley added: “[She] was in such a poor condition that two police officers agreed to take [her] in an emergency fashion direct to the vets for immediate emergency treatment.”
Tragically, little Betty was so unwell that she was put to sleep to end her suffering.
Sentencing | 26 weeks in prison – suspended for 12 months; ten rehabilitation activity requirement sessions; £1,000 in costs plus victim surcharge of £128. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life.
CONVICTED (2022) | Amy Page aka Amy Stanley, born 25 January 1984, of Whitebeam Road, Durrington, Worthing BN13 3PJ – for starving two dogs, one of whom had already died.
Page, who is a traveller and alleged backyard breeder, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the two dogs named Prince and Princess.
The court heard that after the RSPCA had received an anonymous call about one dead dog and another very emaciated live dog at Page’s address, Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Marie Stevens had visited the property and asked to check on the dogs. Page refused, but ARO Stevens then spotted the defendant dragging the lifeless body of an extremely thin black dog from the garden towards the back door of the house.
Evil Amy Page starved Princess to emaciation. Happily she recovered in the RSPCA’s care.
Marie Stevens said: “Despite what I had observed, Ms Page repeatedly denied there was a dead dog on her property, but did take me through the house into the rear garden to show me a live, very emaciated tan and white dog, named Princess. The dog was cowering and appeared frightened. I could clearly see all of her ribs, spine and hip bones. There appeared to be no food or drink available for the dog.
“After pressing her repeatedly about the dead dog I had seen her dragging, she eventually admitted to me that her dog Prince had died and was upstairs in the bathroom. I found Prince – lifeless – under a sheet.
“He was extremely thin, with ribs, backbone, hips and shoulders all clearly visible and it was clear he had also been suffering from a bad ear infection.”
Prince pictured looking fit and healthy before he was starved by Amy StanleyPrince had already died before he could be rescued.
Page agreed to sign both dogs over to the RSPCA, and ARO Stevens took the animals to a local vet. On examination, the vet discovered that the live dog, Princess, was emaciated, with an extremely low body condition score of one (out of nine). Her ribs and bones of the pelvis and spine were very visible and she appeared depressed though responsive. When Princess was offered food she ate voraciously.
The vet reported that the body of Prince was also emaciated; his ribs, pelvic bones and spine were easily visible. A blood sample showed significant changes in the liver and kidney, suggesting organ failure. This dog was transferred to Royal Veterinary College for a post mortem examination.
Speaking after the hearing, ARO Stevens said: “Prince and Princess were dependent on their keeper and Ms Page broke that trust by leaving them to suffer and one to die. Page could have asked for help or handed them over to an animal charity to be rehomed but instead decided to simply neglect them, leading to a period of prolonged suffering and in the case of one of the dogs, death.”
Princess has made a full recovery and has since been rehomed.
Sentencing | 16-week suspended prison sentence; 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; a total of £528 in costs and victim surcharge. Disqualified indefinitely from keeping animals.
Amy Stanley has links to Portsmouth, Littlehampton and Angmering.
It is believed that Prince and Princess belonged to Amy Stanley’s ex husband Graham Page. In 2018 he was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison after being convicted of wounding with intent, affray and breaching the terms of a previous suspended sentence imposed for a driving offence.
CONVICTED (2022) | breeder Gordon Clarke, born 24 August 1959, of 10 Black Dog Walk, Northgate, Crawley RH10 8HL – for cruelty to 15 dogs kept in squalor at his property.
Self-styled hellraiser Gordon Clarke and in 2012 was branded Britain’s worst neighbour for carrying out a “25-year reign of terror” on the Crawley estate where he lives.
Clarke, once branded “Britain’s worst neighbour“, pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Animal Welfare Act, related to 15 dogs.
RSPCA officers visited the home Clarke shares with wife Jay and some of his seven children on April 6, 2021 after concerns were raised about the welfare of a large number of animals living at the home.
They spoke to Clarke and gave him advice related to a spaniel with an extensively matted coat.
Clarke refused to allow the officers access to the rest of the animals so they returned on April 8 with Sussex Police who had a warrant under the Animal Welfare Act.
Clarke subjected multiple dogs to ‘prolonged and serious neglect’.
An independent vet checked all of the animals and 16 dogs and two cats were seized, under the Animal Welfare Act, and taken for veterinary treatment. These included chihuahuas, spaniels and rottweilers.
They were all signed over at a later date and taken into RSPCA care.
They were all rehomed successfully by the charity except for one spaniel who, sadly, despite veterinary treatment and lots of time, had to be put to sleep.
The chihuahuas, rottweilers and some cats were being kept in the front room and upstairs, while the five spaniels were in a small, bare and dirty back room.
Inspector Tony Woodley, who led the investigation, said in his witness statement: “The interior of the house was dimly lit. The ‘living room’ area with a sofa and very large TV was accessible by the cats, rottweilers and chihuahuas. There were food and water bowls in this area.
“To the rear of this was an area of approximately 4m x 2.5m which contained the spaniels. This area had a strong smell and the walls and floor were stained with either faeces or dirt or a mixture of the two.
“There was a human bed in this area with a mattress. The mattress was stained brown and there were blankets on it which were also brown and covered in faeces or mud.
“The floor had concrete missing in places and two dogs were cowering in the area where a draw was missing from a wooden chest of drawers.
“There were no water or food bowls in this area. In this area I saw packs of dog food but this was not accessible to the dogs.”
Sentencing: 18-week prison sentence – suspended for 12 months; 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days; costs and charges of £278. Lifetime ban on all animals.
CONVICTED (2021) | Stuart Lee Stanbridge, born 10 June 1983, of Green Lane Piggeries, Ham Road, Sidlesham, Chichester PO20 7NS – starved and neglected two horses.
Stanbridge was given two concurrent 20-week prison sentences after being found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the horses – a black cob gelding and a dun cob gelding – by failing to investigate and address the causes of their poor bodily condition and weight loss .
He must pay £122 victim surcharge, £750 costs, and was disqualified from owning or keeping all animals for life.
#MostEvil | stables owner Kate Greenhalgh, born c. 1990, previously of Hurston Lane, Pulborough – left horses in her care to starve and suffer
Kate Greenhalgh, who is herself an equestrian, starved four horses and failed to address their health problems.
Kate Greenhalgh, an eventing rider who ran the KG Equestrian stables, failed to take action when four horses in her care became unwell and were “obviously” malnourished..
The public reported their concerns after seeing a horse collapsed in the field.
Inspector Becky Carter, RSPCA Inspector Kate Barnes, and World Horse Welfare’s Chief Field Officer Claire Gordon arrived to be told that the horse, known as Kai, had already been put to sleep and his body removed.
Shocking photos released by the RSPC show the extent of the horses’ suffering
Inspector Carter said: “When we arrived we checked over the horses at the site and found two of them, Adelaide and a young colt, to be in very poor body condition.
“A third horse, Val, was totally emaciated. Adelaide and Val were also suffering from really severe mud fever and rain scald – they had a lot of hair loss and sores on their coats and legs.
“The young colt was so lame he couldn’t bear weight on one leg and could barely walk. He had a very elevated heart rate indicating he was in significant pain.
“The vet discovered he had an abscess in his foot which he predicted had been in this condition for over a week, as the infection had traveled up the horse’s leg and had to be drained of a large amount of pus.
“They certified all three horses to be suffering and the police agreed for us to remove them.”
One horse with a severe skin condition was skeletal after being starved by Greenhalgh
Among Greenhalgh’s clients was Team GB Olympic rider Gemma Tattersall
Daniel Frier, prosecuting, described how Ms Tattersall had searched for professional livery stables to raise horses ready for competitions.
The Olympian said she had spent tens of thousands of pounds on her animals as part of a specialist breeding programme and had kept in contact with Greenhalgh after trusting her with three horses in October 2019.
She assumed that because Greenhalgh herself was a rider and equestrian, that she was able to deliver a professional service.
Ms Tattersall said: “I had told her she could contact me if anything was wrong. Although my horses were valuable, whatever the value a horse should be fed.
“As horse owners, we are all aware that they can pick up injuries, but these should be dealt with.
“When I saw the photos I was completely shocked. The horses’ condition looked so poor, I couldn’t believe they were still alive.
“I have simply never seen any horse in that state before.”
Kai’s owner Nikki Cochran described how the impact of her “unique ” horse dying had been shattering.
She said: “I was proud to have bought a foal with such special breeding. So standing in that field, watching my dream horse die was almost too difficult for words. I have been severely traumatised by what I witnessed.”
Ms Cochran said it has left her in anguish and struggling to trust people because of Greenhalgh, adding: “She turned our dream into our nightmare.”
Following the judgment Inspector Carter said: “This was such a sad case to investigate as the poor health of the horses could have been avoided with appropriate care, and by following vet advice.
“These horses were under the care of Greenhalgh, who is a competition rider, as part of a professional arrangement through her business KG Equestrian, where she would take on horses on livery for backing, competing and sales.
“It’s particularly sad for the horses’ owners as they were under the impression their animals were being looked after.
“Thankfully, Adelaide, Val and the young colt were returned to their owner and have made a good recovery.”
World Horse Welfare chief field officer Claire Gordon said: “I was pleased to support the RSPCA investigation and to see Ms Greenhalgh take responsibility in court by entering a guilty plea, acknowledging the failings in the care she provided these horses.
“She is an experienced equine professional who failed to recognise that she had taken on more than she could manage and rejected offers of help from those concerned around her ultimately resulting in the horses in her care suffering unnecessarily.
“These horses had owners they could have been returned to, if she had acknowledged that she was not coping but instead she chose to allow them to suffer.”
Sentencing | 12-week suspended prison sentence; 120 hours of unpaid work; compensation of £3,650; £878 in costs and charges. No ban.
District judge Amanda Kelly’s decision not to impose any kind of ban or deprivation order on horse killer Kate Greenhalgh was naturally met with dismay and outrage by animal lovers.
She said Greenhalgh has a “long history of working and riding horses and there have been no concerns over her care of horses before or since”.
She said the equestrian had “many glowing references” from other customers who “spoke highly of her ability to care for horses”.
The offences of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal were out of recklessness not malice, the judge said.
District judge Amanda Kelly said that a woman who left horses starving should not be banned from keeping animals as it would be a breach of her human rights.
Greenhalgh has no previous convictions and has said she will not offer a winter livery service again and the judge said her remorse was genuine.
“I found that the experience of being the subject of these criminal proceedings and all the adverse publicity and social media interest that she has received will act as a deterrent to this happening again,” the judge said.
The judge said the purpose of a deprivation order is to protect animals, rather than to punish people and said: “I found that to disqualify Ms Greenhalgh from keeping horses would amount to a disproportionate interference with her Article 8 rights as horses are her livelihood and a major part of her private life.”
The judge said the risk of any further crimes by Greenhalgh was low.
Greenhalgh agreed not to offer winter livery for horses for ten years, which excludes her offering stable from November 1 to March 31 each year.
The RSPCA could take her to court if she breaches the rules, and any breaches will be reserved to be heard before district judge Amanda Kelly
CONVICTED (2020) | Nybella Claire Stephens, born 11 July 1995, of Terminus Road, Chichester PO19 8TX, and Gemma Jane Stevens, born 17 October 1984, most recently of Lagoon Road, Bognor Regis PO21 4TJ – abandoned two former racehorses to starve in a water-logged field.
Gemma Stevens
Nybella Stephens and Gemma Stevens, both formerly of The Millers, Yapton, Arundel, West Sussex, were prosecuted after the RSPCA had to rescue their horses, Magic and Lexi, from a flooded, mud-covered field.
The court heard that RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Marie Stevens and RSPCA Inspector Cora Peeters attended a muddy field in Shripney Lane, Bognor Regis in December 2019 where the horses were being kept. There they witnessed Magic, a fifteen-year-old chestnut gelding eat away at a wooden fence post because he was so hungry and there was nothing to eat.
Inspector Peeters said: “Approximately 75% of the field was flooded and the remainder of the field was deep with mud. The hedges and trees had been stripped of their bark by the horses. I couldn’t see any form of Ad-Lib feeder or hay on the ground.
Both Magic, belonging to Gemma Stevens, and Lexi, a bay mare belonging to Nybella Stephens, were extremely thin and their bony protrusions were clearly visible.
A vet attended and confirmed both horses were in a suffering condition to the extent that they were in an emaciated state.
Magic had an extremely good appetite and dragged his rescuers to grass as soon as he was removed from the field. He weighed 356kg meaning he was at least 100kg underweight.
Lexi weighed 384kg. A thoroughbred of a similar height would be expected to weigh 450-500kg.
The horses were seized by police and removed to a private boarding facility to begin their recovery.
When they were reweighed less than three weeks later, Lexi had already gained over 20kg and Magic had gained 50kg.
Both defendants, who failed to attend any of their court hearings, were found guilty of three offences each under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Magic and Lexi who have both made great recoveries, will be re-homed by World Horse Welfare.
Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £1,151 each. 10-year disqualification order banning them from keeping equines, donkeys or their hybrids.
CONVICTED (2020) | animal ‘collector’ Asha Jackson, born c. 1987, of Eastland Road, Chichester PO19 8AZ and partner Karl McLean, born c. 1985, of New Road, Littlehampton – for neglect of several dogs and a gecko in their care
The pair admitted the following charges all relating to a period in September 2019:
caused unnecessary suffering to a Jack Russell terrier-type dog and two crossbreeds, by failing to explore and address their poor bodily condition;
caused unnecessary suffering to a crossbreed dog, by failing to seek appropriate professional veterinary care to address an infected wound;
caused unnecessary suffering to a terrier-type dog, a collie-type dog and a crossbreed, by subjecting the animals to an environment that was detrimental to their well-being
caused unnecessary suffering to a gecko, by failing to explore and address his poor bodily condition.
Sentencing: Community order with Rehabilitation Activity Requirement; McLean must also carry out 80 hours of unpaid work; £90 victim surcharge, £150 costs each. No mention of a ban or deprivation order.
CONVICTED (2019) | Gypsy John Henry Brazil (since deceased) born 24/06/1998, of The Hawthornes, Clayton Lane, Chichester PO20 8JQ – failed to look after a bay mare
Brazil admitted causing unnecessary suffering by failing to address the cause of the horse’s “poor bodily condition”.
Sentencing: 160 hours of unpaid work; 20 rehabilitation sessions; total of £385 in costs and charges. Banned from keeping horses for three years.
Brazil was back in court for failing to abide by his community order. He admitted breaching a community order by failing to attend an office appointment on October 21, 2019, and unpaid work on November 24, 2019. The community order was revoked and he was dealt with for the original offence, receiving a 10-week prison sentence for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, a bay mare, by failing to explore and address the cause of her poor bodily condition in Clappers Lane, Earnley, between August 26, 2018, and October 26, 2018.
It was reported that Brazil had been found dead in a field at Meadow Crest Farm, Addington.
An inquest in July 2022 found that he had died due to cardiac arrest following blunt facial trauma and alcohol intoxication.
The inquest also heard a toxicology report which noted high levels of alcohol in John-Henry’s system and said he was “under the influence”.
A post-mortem examination showed 23-year-old Brazil from Chichester had facial bruising possibly from a punch, a fractured nose and a lip laceration.
Multiple people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, the court heard, but due to the lack of evidence were released. The investigation was concluded with the death being ruled as “circumstances unknown”.
After hearing all the evidence, it was concluded that Brazil had died due to a cardiac arrest following blunt facial trauma and alcohol intoxication.
