Birthday pony left to die on Darlaston wasteland
A horse owner has admitted causing the death of a pony bought for his son's birthday.
Keith Burton, of Bilboe Road, Bilston, was responsible for the pet called Bullet, which strangled itself on a tether on wasteland in Darlaston.
Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court was told yesterday that Burton bought the animal for his 13 year old son and tied it up on the land on Moxley Road despite not having permission to do so.
He also failed to clear the field of obstacles including a tree stump that restricted the animal's movement and led to its death on August 1 last year.
During an interview Burton, aged 60, tried to lay the blame on vandals he insisted tampered with the tether that caused the pony to suffer.
Mr Roger Price, prosecuting, said: "There are a number of requirements that a person must meet when keeping a horse and the defendant was in breach of all of these. He told the investigating officer he hadn't measured if the rope was long enough to be entangled on the tree stump he'd simply presumed it wasn't long enough to reach it."
Burton admitted two breaches of the animal welfare act.
He will be sentenced next month.
