Yorkshire horse dealer banned for cruelty
A Yorkshire horse dealer has been banned from keeping horses and dogs for 18 months after being found guilty of cruelty.
Sarah Jane Harrison, 38, was found guilty of offences involving five horses and one Bernese mountain dog.
Miss Harrison and Christopher Ian Clarke, 50, appeared before Beverley Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Monday 7 July) for sentencing.
Miss Harrison was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £3,000 towards costs and was given a 12-month supervision order.
Mr Clarke was banned from keeping dogs for six months and ordered to pay £3,000 costs.
The court heard the couple, from Harlthorpe, near Selby, had been given advice by RSPCA inspectors last year, after concerns were raised about the conditions in which 20 horses were being kept.
However, as Miss Harrison was unwilling to cooperate with the RSPCA a warrant was carried out last March, to gain access to the property, after she refused entry.
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The RSPCA found two horses were suffering. One dark bay gelding was emaciated and had a body score of just 0.5 (pictured).
An Appaloosa gelding was found in a field with a chronic bacterial infection. Both horses were seized and placed into RSPCA care.
Last month (10-13 June) Miss Harrison was found guilty of three charges of causing unnecessary suffering and three offences of failing to provide animals with a suitable environment.
Mr Clarke was found guilty of one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a Bernese mountain dog by failing to provide the animal with proper veterinary attention.
RSPCA deputy chief inspector Karen Colman said: “Miss Harrison blamed everybody but herself, when she should have taken responsibility for the welfare of the animals in her care.
“The magistrates made it quite clear in their sentencing, that if found guilty of cruelty, anyone could face being banned from keeping animals, regardless of whether it is their livelihood or not.”
Last year a civil enforcement order was served to Sarah Jane Harrison by Trading Standards following an “extensive investigation” after more than 30 complaints were made against her.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.