Surrey man given five-month prison sentence for lame horse

A Surrey man who allowed a badly lame horse to suffer for days without vet treatment has been given a five-month prison sentence.

Last August, the yearling called Dollar was found standing on three legs by World Horse Welfare office Ted Barnes and RSPCA inspector Liz Wheeler. He had an open wound on his near hind leg, which had swollen to three times its normal size.

Stanley Sales, 54, of Worcester Park, Surrey appeared in Redhill Magistrates Court for sentencing on Wednesday (9 July).

Sales was also given a life ban from keeping all animals, a deprivation order preventing the horse, Dollar, from being returned to him and ordered to pay £1,000 towards costs. His jail sentence was suspended for two years with a supervision order during this duration.

Ted Barnes said he was pleased with the sentence meted out to Stanley sales, adding: “We hope it sends out a strong message to everyone that horse neglect and cruelty will not be tolerated by the courts.”

He added that the horse was “clearly in a lot of pain” when he was discovered.

Dollar has now undergone two operations, and is recovering at World Horse Welfare’s centre in Norfolk.

Sales was also due to appear before Redhill Magistrates Court on 5 June to face charges of animal cruelty. He failed to turn up, but was found guilty in his absence.

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