Farmer avoids jail despite neglecting dozens of horses for years

A farmer who neglected his horses so badly three had to be put down has walked free from court.

Evan Evans, 76, was not even allowed to own horses in the first place after getting a 10-year ban in 2013 over similar neglect.

But he carried on keeping horses regardless until the RSPCA seized all 93 of them from his farm in Chwilog, north Wales, back in September.

The animal welfare officers found one horse had been left to suffer with a broken leg without any medical help. 

Many of the other animals were struggling with hoof problems and bad dental hygiene because they had not been cared for properly. 

All of the horses were kept in stables that were deep in muck. Only 24 animals were deemed to be in an acceptable condition and they were mostly foals.

Several cockerels on the farm also required medical treatment. 

The vet found ‘there was a serious and extensive failure to provide the most basic preventative health care which led to suffering.’ 

Evans was spared jail with a 20-week suspended sentence after the prosecution accepted he was not ‘deliberately cruel’.

But he was fined £1,128 and banned from keeping horses and poultry for 20 years.

Defending Evans in court, Andrew Scott said: ‘He could and should have been more proactive.

‘The RSPCA knew he had these animals and he couldn’t dispose of them. 

‘This wasn’t deliberate. He’s become a victim of circumstances.’

The lawyer added that Evans was ‘terrified’ of going back to prison after spending 10 weeks behind bars in 2013.

He was previously jailed after nine ponies had to be put down because of their mistreatment.

Mr Scott explained that Evans’s children had become involved when they realised how bad the horses were.