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Manchester
Man Convicted of Pony Cruelty
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Today,
Thursday 18th December in Wigan Magistrates Court a local man was
found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Frosty, a 13 hh
pony in his possession.
Tom
Gotheridge, 69, of Abbey Lane, Leigh, Greater Manchester, who changed
his plea to guilty just prior to the hearing, was disqualified for
5 years from having custody of equines, except for the 2 which he
requires for towing his vehicle in his itinerant lifestyle.
He was also given a community punishment order of 80 hours and ordered
to pay £300 prosecution costs.
Following
a complaint received by the ILPH (International League for the Protection
of Horses) in March 2000 their Field Officer Chris Williamson, along
with RSPCA Inspector Cathy Hyde, went to check on the welfare of
a 2 year old chestnut cross bred mare kept at Westleigh, Greater
Manchester.
What
the Field Officer saw appalled him. "I found the youngster
in a terrible state, emaciated, covered in lice, with overgrown
feet and an untreated umbilical hernia. She was standing in a stable
with no bedding only her own excrement covered the floor."
Fortunately
for Frosty she was taken to ILPH Penny Farm, near Blackpool, where
she made a full recovery. Her owner signed her over to the ILPH
in whose ownership she will stay for the rest of her life so she
will never have to suffer abuse again.
Of
the verdict Chris Williamson says, "We are pleased with the
disqualification order which means that Mr Gotheridge is restricted
to keeping only two horses at a time and therefore the chances of
further neglect are greatly reduced."
www.ilph.org
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