HERE’S a selection of court cases featured in this week’s Barnsley Chronicle.
***
A HORSE owner has been given a suspended prison sentence and a lifetime ban from keeping animals.
Kevin Wilson, of St Paul’s Parade, Ardsley, kept ten piebald colts in poor conditions on Ballfield Lane allotments, Darton, before the RSPCA received a tip-off about their welfare.
When inspectors arrived on May 5, one horse was found to have a broken foot, and consequently had to be put down, and two more had severely overgrown hooves, while their access to food and water was also brought into question.
The 55-year-old, who appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, pleaded guilty to three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure the animals’ welfare.
Alyson Goldsmith, defending, said: “Mr Wilson has kept horses for more than 20 years. He started with a few but the numbers grew and it got out of hand. He accepts he was unable to look after so many.
“The horse which sadly had to be put down has escaped and injured its foot. He tried treating it with antibiotics as he did not think it was broken but inspectors arrived before veterinary treatment was sought.
“This is not a spiteful case, it’s more a case of neglect as it got out of hand. He describes the horses as ‘his world’ and there was never any deliberate attempt to injure them.”
Wilson claimed a blacksmith was contacted in order to rectify two horses’ hooves, but he was let down and he did not show up for a pre-arranged appointment.
“He acted with good intentions to a point, but failed to go one step further when he was let down,” Miss Goldsmith said. “This is not a man who set out to harm, but the requirements of keeping ten horses far exceeded his capability.”
The nine remaining horses, which were seized by the RSPCA and remain in its custody, were said to be so ‘ravenously hungry’ when they exited the cramped allotment that they immediately went to a patch of grass to eat, according to prosecutors.
Wilson was given a 12-week prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, told to pay £600 in costs, a £115 victim surcharge and was given an ‘indefinite’ ban from keeping animals.
***
A SERIAL shoplifter who committed 14 thefts during a four-week period has been jailed.
Ricky Bates, of Primrose Avenue, Darfield, appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday having been arrested the previous day after a warrant was issued.
Eric Bray, defending, said the 32-year-old got ‘cold feet’ and missed his sentencing hearing, which was due to take place last Thursday.
The court was told Bates’s repeated offending was down to issues with drugs and, when he was released from prison on October 18, he offended on the same day which kick-started a month-long spree up until mid-November.
The Crown Prosecution Service said his thefts totalled £1,064, with stores including Tesco, Wilkinsons, Heron Foods, Boots and McColls being targeted in Barnsley and Rotherham.
Deputy District Judge Zoe Passfield said: “You have an appalling record and you’re clearly a regular offender who has not learned from your previous stints in prison.
“You were released from your last sentence on October 18 and offended the exact same day.”
Bates, who pleaded guilty to the 14 thefts, was given a 17-week jail term and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.
***
A GREAT Houghton man who spent six months evading police has been sent to jail by Barnsley magistrates.
David Barnett, of Rotherham Road, was caught by officers in Barnsley town centre on Wednesday.
Barnett, 40, had been wanted on two charges of theft and an assault which took place in April.
The incident in April involved an altercation with Hayden Geldard at a Costcutter in Darfield when Mr Geldard, a customer, challenged Barnett having seen him ‘help himself to items’ including ham and coffee.
Having denied assault, he was bailed but failed to turn up for his trial as he got ‘cold feet’, according to Gus Gregory, defending.
“He ended up being arrested in the town centre on Wednesday and given his previous record and the fact he would have been going to court to face two more charges of theft and one assault, he got cold feet and did not attend,” he said.
“He has struggled with heroin and alcohol problems in the past but he is no longer on drugs.”
Barnett was given a 26-week prison term and ordered to pay costs of £85.
***
A WOMAN who used a stolen bank card has been given a 12-month community order.
Leanda Bates, of Guest Street, Platts Common, had fallen on hard times and was given the card by a friend, Barnsley Magistrates’ Court was told.
The 41-year-old used it on November 14 at the Jet petrol station, on Market Street, Hoyland, and spent £47 on items including food and scratch cards.
The card, which was flagged as stolen, was traced to a burglary which had happened just days before at an address in Elsecar.
Bates, who admitted fraud by false representation, was ordered to carry out 40 hours’ unpaid work, told to pay £85 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge.
