Pair sentenced for attacking horse

13/03/2008

Today at Cannock Magistrates Court Matthew Corfield, 19, and Anthony Hinsley, 19, were sentenced for attacking a horse named Maggie, a 19-year-old Piebald mare, on 13 April 2007 at a farm near Essington, both pleaded guilty on the first day of their trial

Corfield was sentenced to 164 days imprisonment in a Young Offenders Institute and Hinsley, who admitted chasing Maggie around her field was given a 12 month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £225.

Speaking after sentencing Viv Starkie, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS Staffordshire said: "Both were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This new legislation came into force only shortly before this offence was committed, so this is one of the first convictions in the county under the legislation, which targets such acts of cruelty.
"This case involved two young men cornering a defenceless animal and attacking it. They slashed and cut the animal throwing a meat cleaver at her several times causing horrendous injuries, she was so badly injured she had to be destroyed later by a vet."

Sgt 4921 Paul Cooke of Watling Street Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU) said: "Today's sentencing brings to a conclusion the investigations carried-out by PC 4131 Darren Munnerley.
 "This officer spoke to a number of people with information about this incident and we would like to thank the public most sincerely for providing evidence which ultimately supported the successful conclusion of this court case.
"This is a clear example of how the public and the police, working together, have brought those responsible for this tragic incident, to justice."