A man who left a poor horse to starve and suffer from infected wounds has been sentenced following an RSPCA investigation.

Stephen Challis, 59 of Brickfield Lane, Burnham, Slough has been banned from keeping horses for four years after he was sentenced at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, March 17.

Bonny the mare had to be put down after suffering terrible injuries to her legs.

Former RSPCA Inspector Rachel Smith even saw from a distance how skinny Bonny the mare was, with her ribs, spine, hips and pelvis prominent.

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She said: "She had a dirty bandage on her front left leg and her knee appeared swollen. Her hooves were long, with both front hooves split in several places indicating a lack of recent appropriate farriery care."

A vet examined Bonny and removed a bandage revealing an old infected wound that was 'green and smelt'.

"Despite receiving treatment for her emaciated condition and injury, Bonny deteriorated further and sadly a vet recommended it would be in her best interest to put her to sleep”, Rachel Smith added.

Bonnys wound

Bonny's wound

Challis confirmed he had not had a vet attend ‘for a long time’ and said he trimmed Bonny’s hooves himself.

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He denied being the owner or person responsible for Bonny but accepted that he had acted as her carer for the past 15-20 years by way of his daily feeding and maintenance of her.

He was found guilty of three animal welfare offences on January 15 and sentenced at Reading Magistrates' Court.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for one year and ordered to take 180 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £1,000 costs.