Man Jailed For Drowning A Horse At Appleby Horse Fair
| Man Jailed For Drowning A Horse At Appleby Horse Fair A London man responsible for the drowning of a horse at Appleby Horse Fair, Cumbria, has been jailed.
A Carlisle judge yesterday (Thursday 13 March) told 21-year-old Ian Deer, of Seven Sisters Road, Tottenham, he had shown "manifest recklessness" when he led the horse into the River Eden on Friday 8 June 2007, the second day of the annual event. |  |
Carlisle Magistrates Court heard how bystanders watched in horror as Deer, who had bought the horse earlier in the day for £100 and had intended to sell it at the end of the fair, forced the horse in to deep water where it struggled and drowned.
Callum Cowx, prosecuting, told the hearing that the lead rope around the animal's head had been negligently tied and had slipped down around its nose and mouth, making it difficult for the horse to breathe.
Geyve Walker, defending, said Deer had acted impulsively and had not been deliberately cruel. |  |
| Deer was arrested on Tuesday 13 November 2007 by RSPCA inspectors and officers from Cumbria Police following an extensive joint investigation. He later pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the horse, under section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, before Penrith magistrates. Yesterday afternoon, District Judge Gerald Chalk jailed him for 28 days and banned him from keeping all animals for five years with the words: "You took this horse into the water in what must have seemed like an extreme sport. Whilst I accept this was not done to kill the horse, your reckless conduct led to the horse's distress and, ultimately, its death." |  |
District Judege Chalk also sentenced Deer to an additional 14 days in prison for missing an earlier court hearing and another 14 days imprisonment for arriving two hours late for the sentencing (to run concurrently).
RSPCA inspector Sue Craig, speaking after the hearing, said: "This is a satisfying conclusion to a case that disturbed even the most experienced inspectors working at Appleby. Hopefully it will serve as an example that this kind of reckless cruelty cannot and will not be tolerated.
"We have worked closely alongside Cumbria Police in our investigations and are very pleased to have secured a conviction. We are also grateful to the travelling community for all their help, co-operation and support."
Photos - Top - Copyright: RSPCA
Photos - Middle and Bottom - Copyright: Phil Wilson
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Increased RSPCA Presence at Appleby Horse Fair
Sickening End To An Ancient Ritual At Horse Fair
Added on: 14/03/08.
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