JOHN WATSON AND ANN DUCKITT SENTENCED IN DONCASTER FOR HORSE NEGLECT

John Watson, born on 8 June 1977, of 16 Linton Gardens, Darlington DL1 4PB, and Ann Duckitt, born circa 1960, of the travellers site in Kirkhouse Green, Doncaster DN7 5TA, were convicted in 2025 for keeping nine severely neglected horses in filthy conditions.

Watson, a traveller and horse trader based in Darlington, County Durham, received a ban from keeping any equines for the next 10 years.

Both Watson and Duckitt faced a 10-year ban on owning or keeping horses after authorities found the animals suffering from overgrown hooves, dental issues, lice infestations, and heavy worm burdens. The horses were kept in heavily soiled straw bedding amid unsanitary conditions. Tragically, two of the horses had to be euthanized due to their poor health.

In May and June 2023, RSPCA officers, a World Horse Welfare equine expert, and a veterinary team visited Duckitt’s property in Kirkhouse Green, Doncaster, to assess the horses’ welfare. Nine horses were seized immediately on the grounds of poor health and inadequate living conditions.

Ownership of the horses was disputed by both Duckitt and Watson.

Lynsey Harris, Chief Inspector for the RSPCA’s South Yorkshire team, stated: “These poor horses were badly neglected with severely overgrown hooves and unsanitary living conditions. The vet who examined them reported that all nine had overgrown hooves, with some so severe that the hooves curled under or over the foot, causing lameness. In her opinion, most had never been attended to by a farrier in their lives.

“They were living in terrible, cramped, and unsanitary conditions on bedding that, in some cases, was a 2-foot-high pile of faeces and old straw. This led to severe thrush, infections, and maggots in the feet of some of the horses.

“Lack of dental care was apparent, with some animals having severely sharp teeth and ulcerated mouths, alongside infestations of mites causing itching.”

The vet concluded that the owners failed to meet the basic needs of the horses by neglecting environment, body condition, hoof and dental care, and failing to treat thrush, lice, or lameness adequately. In her assessment, five of the horses had also experienced unnecessary suffering.

Sarah Tucker, a World Horse Welfare Field Officer, explained: “We had been visiting the location for several years, advising and educating the owners in hopes of improving the situation. Most owners are willing to work with us, but on this occasion, our advice was ignored, leading to suffering among some ponies. Ultimately, the decision was made to remove the ponies in coordination with police and RSPCA officers.

“Three of the ponies were taken into our Penny Farm Rescuing and Rehoming Centre for rehabilitation and have since been adopted into loving homes.”

Lynsey Harris emphasized the legal responsibilities of horse owners, saying: “It is the owners’ legal duty to properly care for any animals they own. Sadly, much of the suffering was caused by the owners’ neglect. I urge owners to be realistic about their ability to care for their animals physically and financially. If they cannot meet their needs, they must take action to prevent suffering.”

In sentencing, John Watson received a 15-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, along with 40 hours of unpaid work, costs of £750, and a £154 victim surcharge. Ann Duckitt was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, accompanied by 80 hours of unpaid work, costs of £400, and a £154 victim surcharge. Both are banned from owning horses for ten years, with the ban expiring in March 2035.