Man Sentenced For Neglecting His Horse – One Of The Thinnest World Horse Welfare Has Ever Seen

A man from Cleveland has been jailed after neglecting his horse which is one of the thinnest World Horse Welfare has ever seen. Tom Parker, 72, of The Green, Wolviston, Billingham pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at Hartlepool Magistrates to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for causing unnecessary suffering to ‘Rupert’, 30 year old, 16.0hh, dark bay gelding by not having him examined by a veterinary surgeon. Yesterday (Tuesday 3 April 2012) at Hartlepool Magistrates Court, Parker was sent to 16 weeks in prison and received a ban for life from keeping equines. The court heard how on Thursday 22 September last year our charity received a call on our UK Welfare Hotline from a concerned member of the public about an underweight horse in a stable off Durham Road in Wolviston, Billingham. Our Field Officer Gus Dowson visited the site that day, along with RSPCA Inspector Gary Palmer and a veterinary surgeon. The vet advised that Rupert should be removed from the site and three days later it was agreed he should be put to sleep due to his extremely emaciated condition. Gus Dowson commented on the case by saying: “Rupert was the thinnest horse I have ever seen and is one of the thinnest our charity has ever dealt with. The horse, despite having access to food and water, had severe dental neglect and wasn’t able to cope with what he was being offered. Rupert also had several pressure sores and lesions on his exposed joints and protruding bones which must have caused a great deal of discomfort for him. “I welcome the sentencing as it reflects the severity of the case. Mr Parker had owned Rupert since a yearling and it was clear that the neglect he endured in his later years had happened over a long period of time.”

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