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horse & rider

A Norfolk woman has been ordered to carry out more unpaid work despite winning her appeal against her previous sentence for causing unnecessary suffering to her horse.

Sonia White, aged 39, of Hoe Road East, Swanton Morley pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at King’s Lynn Magistrates Court on Thursday 17 November 2011 to two charges under Section 4 of the 2006 Animal Welfare Act. She caused unnecessary suffering to the horse, Swifty, a 16.0hh bay mare through her failure to provide care and get a veterinary surgeon.

On the same day Ms White was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for twelve months, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay around £700 in costs.

However, last week (Friday 16 December), Ms White won her appeal against her prison sentence as the judge at Norwich Crown Court dropped the prison sentence but increased the number of hours of unpaid work from 100 to 250.

At a previous hearing the court heard how in April this year, World Horse Welfare Field Officer Jacko Jackson and Norfolk County Council Trading Standards Officer and Animal Inspector Julian Watts visited the site, a field off Hoe Road East after receiving a call from a concerned member of the public about two thin horses. They found one of the horses (Swifty) severely underweight and a vet was called and it was agreed that she should be removed and taken into the care of World Horse Welfare. On the same day Swifty was taken to Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Snetterton, Norfolk.

After Friday’s hearing Jacko Jackson said: “I am satisfied with the outcome of today’s court hearing. Judge Phillip Curl felt the case was serious enough to increase the amount of community service Ms White should carry out. It was also highlighted that a horse losing weight in winter is not a reasonable defence.

“The judge was shown recent photographs of Swifty at Hall Farm, taken by World Horse Welfare staff, and commented that a horse can look well if looked after properly.”

Swifty remains in the care of World Horse Welfare and continues to be rehabilitated at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm and it is hoped that she will be rehomed in the near future.