FIONA HUME FROM BRAINTREE SENTENCED FOR HORSE NEGLECT AT INWORTH DIY LIVERY YARD

Fiona Jane Hume, born on June 10, 1988, and residing on Inworth Road, Feering, Braintree CO5 9SE, was found guilty of neglecting her horses at a makeshift livery yard in Inworth. Her failure to provide proper care resulted in the starvation and severe malnutrition of five horses, leading to a criminal conviction that has garnered significant concern from animal welfare authorities.

Hume, a mother of one, was subjected to a court sentence that included an eight-week jail term, which was suspended for one year. Additionally, she was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service and pay a total of £380 in costs and charges. Her legal restrictions also include a five-year ban from keeping horses and ponies, a penalty that expired in November 2021.

The case came to light when RSPCA officers, who had been called to the yard in April of that year on an unrelated matter, discovered the dire condition of the animals. The officers were shocked by the state of neglect and the extreme suffering endured by the horses and ponies left at the site. Among the animals found were ten-year-old grey Shetland Misty, 18-year-old bay Shetland Chocolate, six-year-old liver chestnut thoroughbred Zebedee, 20-year-old bay thoroughbred Keira, and 22-year-old palomino Arab Charlie. All five were subsequently signed over to the RSPCA for care and rehabilitation.

RSPCA inspector Caroline Richardson described the scene vividly, stating, “We were called to the yard in April this year on an entirely separate matter when we came across these horses and ponies. Three were given body condition scores of zero out of five, while two were rated as 0.5 out of five. They were so skinny. One of the ponies could barely stand, she was absolutely skeletal. I couldn’t speak when I saw them because it was so bad, I was totally shocked.”

Inspector Richardson further explained that the animals’ suffering was compounded by health issues, including four horses suffering from worms and two with untreated lice causing skin problems. She expressed her hope that these horses would now be able to live out their days in loving homes, with ample grass and hay to ensure their recovery and well-being. The case highlights the importance of animal welfare laws and the consequences of neglecting such responsibilities in the Braintree area.