Man pleads guilty to neglecting foal in Attleborough
He's been banned from keeping horses for 20 years
Last updated 13th May 2021
A man has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a foal at a trial at King's Lynn magistrates court.
The court heard today how the defendant Mr Oliver Jones, 31, formerly of Leys Lane, Attleborough, and currently of Somerville, Peterborough, severely neglected a foal. A vet who examined the emaciated horse found it was suffering multiple health issues caused by the neglect.
Mr Jones was sentenced to 10 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, and has been banned from keeping horses for 20 years.
Sophie Leney, Head of Norfolk County Council Trading Standards said:
"This is a satisfactory outcome of a very sad case. It's very welcome that Mr Oliver Jones will be disqualified from owning or keeping horses following the neglect and suffering he caused. In this extreme case there was no choice but to seize the animals immediately and take them to a place of safety. We would like to thank World Horse Welfare for their invaluable assistance in this matter".
World Horse Welfare contacted the Norfolk County Council Trading Standards team on 29 July 2019. Due to the nature of the concerns, council officers, alongside World Horse Welfare, visited a site near Attleborough on 30 July 2019.
Officers found a mare and foal in a small paddock containing 13 horses. There was no grass, the area was full of muck, and had rubbish lying around. A vet who examined the pair at the scene was so concerned they were immediately taken away for emergency treatment.
A thorough inspection identified multiple health issues caused by a failure to seek veterinary advice on nutrition, worming, basic care, and for the malformation of the foal's legs. Sadly, the mother of the foal had been severely affected by the neglect causing a chronic heart defect which later led to her sudden death. Happily the foal, now named Hercules, has recovered well in the care of World Horse Welfare.
The judgement also saw Norfolk County Council Trading Standards granted a deprivation order giving the service the ownership of the foal - which will hopefully now be rehomed by World Horse Welfare.
Jacko Jackson of World Horse Welfare, said:
"Although this is great result, and Oliver Jones finally pleaded guilty, it has been a frustrating two years to get to this point. For the first two years of his life, as part of an on-going prosecution, World Horse Welfare were only allowed to offer maintenance care to little Hercules once he had been recovered to a healthy weight. Now that the case is over he can be gelded and his education can begin, with the aim for him to be offered for rehoming in the future, where he can lead the life he deserves."
If you find a welfare issue on a farm report it to our partners Citizens Advice immediately on 03454 040 506.