NYBELLA STEPHENS AND GEMMA STEVENS HORSE ABANDONMENT IN CHICHESTER AND BOGNOR REGIS

In a disturbing case that highlights neglect and cruelty towards animals, Nybella Claire Stephens and Gemma Jane Stevens, both residents of West Sussex, faced justice after abandoning two former racehorses to suffer in a water-logged field. The incident unfolded in December 2019, when the RSPCA was compelled to intervene after receiving reports of horses in dire condition in the muddy, flooded terrain of Shripney Lane, Bognor Regis.

Animal rescue officers Marie Stevens and inspector Cora Peeters responded to the scene, where they found the horses in a severely neglected state. The horses, Magic and Lexi, were kept in a field that was approximately 75% submerged under water, with the remaining area filled with deep mud. The environment was so harsh that the hedges and trees had been stripped of their bark by the horses, indicating their desperation and hunger. The officers observed that there was no visible feed, hay, or any form of sustenance available for the animals, which was a clear violation of animal welfare standards.

Magic, a fifteen-year-old chestnut gelding owned by Gemma Stevens, was seen gnawing on a wooden fence post, driven by hunger. Both horses were found to be extremely emaciated, with their bony protrusions clearly visible. A veterinarian confirmed that both animals were suffering from severe malnutrition, with Magic weighing only 356 kilograms—at least 100 kilograms below the expected weight for a horse of his size. Lexi, a bay mare owned by Nybella Stephens, weighed 384 kilograms, whereas a healthy thoroughbred of similar height would typically weigh between 450 and 500 kilograms.

Following their rescue, the horses were seized by police and taken to a private boarding facility to begin their recovery process. Remarkably, within less than three weeks, Lexi had gained over 20 kilograms, and Magic had gained 50 kilograms, demonstrating significant improvement in their health.

Both Nybella Stephens and Gemma Stevens, who had failed to attend any of their court hearings, were found guilty of three offences each under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The court ordered them to pay fines totaling £1,151 each and imposed a ten-year ban preventing them from owning or keeping any equines, donkeys, or their hybrids. The horses, Magic and Lexi, who have since made substantial recoveries, are scheduled to be re-homed by the charity World Horse Welfare, ensuring they will have a better future free from neglect and cruelty.