KATE SHOWELL'S HORRIFIC PONY NEGLECT IN LOUGHBOROUGH LEADS TO SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE

In a case that has shocked animal welfare advocates across Leicestershire, Kate Showell, a resident of Charles Street, Sileby, Loughborough, was found guilty of causing the suffering and neglect of multiple ponies over a period of several months. The court heard that her actions, or lack thereof, resulted in the tragic death of five horses, including a Shetland pony named Bobby, who could not be saved after enduring months of severe neglect.

Showell, born in 1957, faced multiple charges relating to her failure to provide adequate care for her animals. She pleaded guilty to six counts of causing unnecessary suffering and an additional eleven charges of neglecting her duty to ensure the welfare of her ponies. The offences spanned a five-month period from August 2016 to January 2017, during which she kept a total of 16 ponies across five different locations in the Leicestershire area.

The locations where Showell kept her ponies included Leicester Road in Thurcaston, Greengate Lane in Birstall, Cotes Road in Barrow upon Soar, Farnham Close in Rothley, and Station Road in Cropston. The court was told that her neglect was so severe that a veterinarian with decades of experience described the condition of one pony, which had to be euthanized, as “the worst he had ever seen.”

Prosecutor Kevin McCole revealed that the RSPCA was already familiar with Showell’s case, having previously provided her with advice regarding the welfare of her ponies. Concerns about the animals’ condition had been raised on multiple occasions, culminating in a site visit on June 22, 2016, to a field off Leicester Road in Thurcaston. During this inspection, two senior RSPCA inspectors, a police officer, and a veterinarian observed more than 20 ponies living in poor conditions.

Following this initial visit, a follow-up inspection was conducted at the beginning of August 2016. It was during this visit that authorities issued a formal warning after discovering that Showell had failed to seek veterinary treatment for two Shetland ponies, Bobby and Pixie. Both ponies were found to be in an emaciated state, suffering from diarrhea and passing large worm balls, some as big as tennis balls. Blood tests confirmed a severe worm infestation, and the animals exhibited ulcers, infections, and rotten teeth that prevented them from eating properly.

The neglect had likely persisted for at least two years, with Bobby, who was blind, and other ponies like Stella and Pearl, suffering from extreme emaciation. Stella, a cob pony, was so thin that she had to be euthanized after being recovered from a field in Cotes Road, Barrow upon Soar. The veterinarian described her condition as “emaciated and as thin as a pony can get whilst being able to stand up.”

On January 19, 2017, a coordinated operation involving the RSPCA and Leicestershire Police resulted in the removal of an additional eleven ponies from five of Showell’s properties. At that time, 19 ponies remained in her care, but the total number of ponies she owned had since increased to 34, raising further concerns about her capacity to care for them.

Despite her guilty plea, a probation report indicated that Showell appeared unable to fully accept responsibility for her actions and the suffering inflicted upon her animals. Her solicitor, Kim Lee, argued that horses were her client’s “whole life” and that she had been living “beyond her means,” often sacrificing her own needs to feed and water her ponies while living on state benefits. Lee described Showell as “vulnerable,” “socially isolated,” and suffering from depression and anxiety. She also claimed that she had been pressured into purchasing some of her horses by members of the travelling community, which had overwhelmed her.

District Judge Sally Fudge addressed Showell directly, emphasizing that while there was no evidence of malicious intent, her neglect had nonetheless caused significant suffering to her ponies. She sentenced Showell to 14 weeks in prison, suspended for one year, and ordered her to pay £265 in costs and charges. Additionally, she was disqualified from keeping ponies for four years, a period that expired in March 2022.

This case highlights the importance of animal welfare and the devastating consequences of neglect, especially in cases involving vulnerable animals like ponies. The community and animal welfare organizations continue to advocate for stricter oversight and accountability to prevent such tragedies from recurring in Loughborough and beyond.