Horse ban for father on tethered pony's death in Darlaston

The horse, named Bullet, was found dead by an RSPCA inspector on land in Moxley Road. Its tether had become entangled around a tree stump.

Keith Burton of Bilboe Road, Bradley, Bilston, was told by Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday he must not keep or have any involvement with the care and control of equines for two years.

Bullet had been a pet for his 13-year-old son but Burton had not measured the length of the leash and was not sure if the stump would cause an obstruction.

When questioned, Burton, who kept two other ponies on the land for several months, claimed that Bullet had been killed by other horse owners who had also used the land to keep their pets on.

The 60-year-old had originally pleaded not guilty to two charges of failing to ensure the care of an animal but changed his plea to guilty at a hearing last month. Mr Andrew Wakeman, defending, described Burton as an animal lover who was left distra-ught by the death of the pony.

He said: "From the outset of this case it has been made clear Mr Burton didn't intend or knowingly want to cause his pet any suffering.

"He left school at the age of 15 and has kept and cared for horses ever since.

"He's now 60-years-old – that's 45 years without there ever being an harm to horses. This is his first offence.

"This is a tragic case where an animal he cared for, a family pet, has died and it comes down to a matter of feet even inches of a tether," he added.

"Mr Burton has been left distraught by this death and even during the interview he broke down several times.

"It explains his decision to plead not guilty initially because he hadn't come to terms with the animal's death."

As well as being banned, Mrs Sarita Sharma, chairman of the magistrates, ruled that the two remaining horses should be taken into the care of the RSPCA but suspended the order for 28 days to give him the opportunity to rehouse them.

Burton also received a 12-month-community sentence of 100 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay £2,000 towards the cost of the case.