ANNETTE NALLY FROM OLDBURY SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC HORSE ABUSE IN WORCESTERSHIRE AND SOLIHULL

In a disturbing case brought forward by the RSPCA, Annette Nally, a resident of Pryor Road in Oldbury, has been found guilty on four serious charges related to the neglect and suffering of multiple horses. The charges include three counts of causing unnecessary suffering and one count of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals under her care.

The investigation was initiated after inspectors discovered a grim scene at a yard off Astwood Lane in Stoke Prior, Worcestershire, on July 14, 2018. The scene revealed the tragic neglect of eight horses, with one horse already dead and twelve others in a state of extreme emaciation. The conditions were so dire that two of the horses had to be euthanized due to their suffering.

Further inspections extended to two additional sites under Nally’s control, located in Lapworth, Warwickshire, and Old Green Lane in Solihull. At these locations, inspectors found seven more horses suffering from poor health and neglect, confirming a pattern of neglect across multiple properties.

One of the most harrowing aspects of the case involved a mare named Ruby and her foal Rebecca. Concerned members of the public discovered them in a barn that was described as a “filthy stinking mess,” with floors covered in urine and feces. Ruby was found in a state of starvation and was so weak that she was euthanized within 24 hours of being discovered. Rebecca, her foal, survived only because she was still feeding from her mother at the time.

The court heard detailed evidence, including post-mortem reports that revealed animals had starved to death. In one particularly shocking case, a gelding was found with string in its small intestine, which the judge suggested may have been ingested in a desperate attempt to find nourishment. The scene at Stoke Prior also showed signs of frantic struggle, with marks in the filth indicating the animal had thrashed in its final hours trying to get to its feet.

District Judge Ian Strongman condemned Nally for her inaction, stating, “You saw animals deteriorating in front of you and did nothing to stop it.” The judge also noted the emotional toll on RSPCA inspectors, who were so traumatised by the conditions they encountered that they could not continue their investigation.

During the trial, Nally denied all charges, claiming that the horses’ poor condition was due to the hot summer weather, which she argued prevented grass from growing in the fields. She also insisted that the animals had not been left without water and suggested that three horses had been affected by a mysterious illness causing their feces to turn bright yellow. However, the court dismissed her explanations as “entirely bogus and untrue.”

In her defense, Nally’s solicitor, known only as Ms Whitehead, highlighted her financial struggles, including a £2,000 vet’s bill, and her current employment as a courier, suggesting she was just managing to survive. She was also described as a person of previously good character, and her case was characterized as a “blip” by her legal representative.

The court emphasized that Nally’s reputation for caring for horses had led the public and the Retraining of Racehorses charity to send animals to her in good faith. The breach of this trust was considered an aggravating factor in her sentencing.

Supporters and rescue workers, including Carolle Lee-Jones of the High Horse Showing Society, expressed their horror at the conditions. Lee-Jones, who was present when the horses were first discovered, remarked, “I do rescue work and I have never seen such a horrific sight.”

As a result of her conviction, Nally was sentenced to 26 weeks in jail and was banned from keeping any animals for life. The case has garnered significant attention from local and national media outlets, including Dudley News, BBC News, and the Solihull Observer, highlighting the severity of animal cruelty and neglect in this case.