Banned for a year.

[Sugarplum Furry]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/311521.html

Is that all???? Disgusting!!

 

[ebonyallen]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/311521.html

Is that all???? Disgusting!!

Words fail me, the law is an ass .

 

[Moomin1]

I know the officer who dealt with this case and they are absolutely devastated at this outcome.

 

[Goldenstar]

banned for a year ... Not nearly enough and I think the RSPCA should be able to reclaim the costs of vet and care for the horses from people found guilty in cases like this.

 

[Moomin1]

Goldenstar the RSPCA can and do claim for all costs incurred and they ALWAYS ask for this to be granted in court, but unfortunately not all magistrates award it, and quite often the costs run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

 

[cptrayes]

Goldenstar the RSPCA can and do claim for all costs incurred and they ALWAYS ask for this to be granted in court, but unfortunately not all magistrates award it, and quite often the costs run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The Magistrates don't award it because the guidelines are that the amount the offender is told to pay in fines, victim surcharge, costs and compensation should reasonably be expected to be paid off in under two years. If this person was of low income then the hands of the Magistrates were tied and they could not award the RSPCA their costs no matter how much they wanted to.

 

[The-mad-cat-lady]

The Magistrates don't award it because the guidelines are that the amount the offender is told to pay in fines, victim surcharge, costs and compensation should reasonably be expected to be paid off in under two years. If this person was of low income then the hands of the Magistrates were tied and they could not award the RSPCA their costs no matter how much they wanted to.

The MAGISTRATES hands arent tied when handing out the lenght of the ban though.

 

[muddymate]

I had to read it twice, just pitiful, a bloody disgrace but it happens again and again.
I wonder what would happen if she (hypothetically speaking) flouted the sentence - not much I suspect (i seem to remember the woman, a few years ago, who let her horses starve in a field when there was hay right next door was caught driving a lorry transporting horses after her ban, and I don't think much was done). What happens to the horses that were seized, is she able to get them back after the year ban? May sound unfeasible but I'm not so sure...

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Yes the sentence is pitiful, however at least more people are being taken to court and found guilty, so in some ways its a step forward.