Racehorse left to starve

Thatcham woman, Pamela Ann Vallentin, has been given a suspended jail term and banned from working with animals

A WOMAN who let a retired racehorse starve in agony has been given a suspended jail term and banned from working with animals.

Four-year-old chestnut filly Red Reef was discovered emaciated, lice-ridden and neglected by her owner - 21-year-old Pamela Ann Vallentin of Redshank Court, Thatcham, magistrates heard on Wednesday.

Ms Vallentin showed no emotion as she was told that the extent of the prolonged neglect and suffering she had inflicted was such that only a custodial sentence was possible.

Paul Breen, prosecuting on behalf of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said that, on May 11 last year, a caller alerted the Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme (HEROS) to Red Reef's terrible plight.

He added: “HEROS staff attended a paddock in Oxford Road, Beedon, and took Red Reef into the charity's care. She appeared to be very hungry, very thin and was wearing a thin rag which rubbed on her neck and shoulders causing her hair to fall out. The rag smelled very bad, indicating it had not been changed.”

Mr Breen said vets discovered the once-proud racehorse was lice-ridden, emaciated and suffering various skin conditions including rain scald over almost quarter of her body.

He said her hoofs were abscessed so badly that infected pus had burst from them and Red Reef subsequently had to be fitted with specially-designed plastic shoes to ease her agony.

The court heard that, with loving care from HEROS staff, Red Reef had made a full recovery and is now thriving.

Ms Vallentin admitted two offences of causing unnecessary suffering and one of failing to protect Red Reef from unnecessary suffering and disease, all between April 12 and May 1 last year.

She has no previous convictions.

John Jackson, defending, asked magistrates to consider pre-sentence reports on his client and referred to a private letter she had written to them, adding: “She wishes to apologise for these offences.”

He said they arose from “an apathetic mindset rather than a wilful intention to cause harm.”

Mr Jackson said Ms Vallentin had intended to breed from Red Reef but added: “She discovered the animal was vicious - it would bite and kick her and she had difficulty handling it. She was considering calling the vet when the horse was taken from her.

“She has always worked with horses since leaving school and is now unemployed.”

Magistrates said the offences were so serious, and the prolonged suffering inflicted on Red Reef so great, that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

Ms Vallentin was sentenced to 16 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for one year, ordered to undertake 100 hours' unpaid community work and told to pay £1,245 costs.

She was also banned from owning, working with or having anything to do with animals for 15 years.

Afterwards, RSPCA inspector Sharon Crisp said: “We are delighted with the result. I think it sends the right message. The fact is that this lady worked professionally with horses for years so she knew very well what was expected of her.

“The threshold is higher for somone in the trade.”