Trekking centre in Knaresborough pleads guilty to health and safety offence after child bitten by horse

The owners of a trekking centre in Knaresborough have pleaded guilty to health and safety offences after a child was bitten on site.

Little Pastures Trekking Centre were seen at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday 10 September, with the prosecution brought by Harrogate Borough Council after an 11-year-old suffered a serious bite to the arm.

It happened as she walked past a stable door. She had to receive reconstructive surgery after the incident.

During the investigation by the borough council the owners of the trekking centre accepted that the horse was 'grumpy' and it was revealed that the horse 'gets territorial around her stable and snaps when people are too close'.

After viewing CCTV footage of the bite, the judge found that whilst the defendant had made some attempts to rope off the horse, the precautions were not sufficient to prevent the bite.

The investigation was carried out by the council’s legal services and environmental health teams following a complaint from the victim’s family.

Following a guilty plea from both Mrs Jocelyn Fletcher-Bryan and Mr Roy Bryan – owners of Little Pastures Trekking Centre – the judge sentenced them both to a £3,000 fine, £170 victim surcharge and costs of £2,500 to the borough council. In total, they have been fined £11,340.

Councillor Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said: "Customers of Little Pastures Trekking Centre should be safe in the knowledge that by visiting the trekking centre they will not be subject to injury or trauma.

"This incident, that has physically harmed an 11-year-old, should never have happened and it is only right that we investigate thoroughly and take appropriate action to ensure it never happens again.

"The result should come as a reminder for all businesses that engage with the public that health and safety is paramount."

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