CONVICTED (2024) | Katrina Sullivan, born c. 1982, of Laurel Grove, Bognor Regis PO22 9JR and Jamie ‘Jay’ Middleton, born 14 November 1987, of Felpham Road, Bognor Regis PO22 – left a horse and a pony to waste away in a field. Sullivan and Middleton were prosecuted by the RSPCA after neglecting a pony and a horse so badly that both animals died. The case concerned an 18-month old piebald cob filly called Sassy and a three-year-old bay Welsh Arab gelding called Apollo, who were left in paddocks in terrible conditions. RSPCA officer Rebecca Carter visited the field, off Brooks Lane in Bognor Regis, on October 25, 2023, where she met a field officer from the World Horse Welfare charity. There, they found Sassy in a stable, gravely ill, emaciated and suffering from a tail wound which was infested with maggots. Apollo was found in another stable. His legs were so badly swollen he could no longer stand. His rear end was covered in diarrhoea, and he was so malnourished his spine, ribs and hip bones were all visible. In a statement presented to the court Inspector Carter said: “Sassy was wearing two rugs but despite this I was able to see that she was in a very poor bodily condition with a thin neck and protruding scapula and sunken abdominal area. “I could feel her protruding spine, ribs and pelvis area. She appeared to have lost all of the muscle in her hind limbs and her tail and rear legs were covered in foul-smelling diarrhoea.” Sullivan told them she had found the animal lying down in a field four days previously, but could not get medical help because her regular vet was away on holiday. She claimed that other vets wouldn’t come out because she ‘had no money to pay upfront and failed credit checks.’ Sullivan’s daughter left Apollo in the care of her mother, and was unaware of any problems with the horse. They also found two other horses in a paddock nearby; both were in a reasonable condition. All four horses were taken into the care of World Horse Welfare. Tragically Sassy died while the charity officers were in the paddock. Despite receiving intensive treatment, Apollo passed away three days later in a veterinary hospital. A post-mortem showed that Sassy weighed just 83 kilograms. She was suffering with a serious parasite infection in her gastrointestinal tract. This had accelerated her weight loss, which may have also have been due to a simple lack of food. In mitigation, the court heard how Sullivan was remorseful. She said she had left the animals in the care of her partner, Middleton, who suffered from mental health problems. It was said that he ‘tried his best’, but his efforts were ultimately ‘incompetent.’ Magistrates told both defendants that they had ‘dreadfully mistreated’ the horses, but agreed to suspend their custodial sentences. Sentencing | Sullivan was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. Middleton was handed a 14-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. Both defendants were told to pay court costs of £350 and a victim surcharge of £154 each. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires October 2034). Horse & Hound Sussex Express