A Llandeilo man has been handed a suspended sentence after he was found to have neglected five horses and a foxhound.

Gregory Edward Baker of Rhydcymerau, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, appeared at  Llanelli Magistrates’ Court for a two-day trial on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April, and faced five offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

They were that he caused unnecessary suffering to five equines by failing to adequately investigate or address the causes of their poor or underweight bodily conditions along with skin diseases namely rain scald, mud fever and lice infestation, and also did not meet their needs.

He also caused further unnecessary suffering to one of these equines - a chestnut mare - relating to her lameness of her left foreleg and unnecessary suffering to a foxhound by failing to provide prompt or effective professional veterinary care and attention for his paraphimosis (unretracted penis) with associated ulceration and fracture.

South Wales Guardian: Gregory failed to address the causes of poor bodily conditions and skin diseases to five horses.Gregory failed to address the causes of poor bodily conditions and skin diseases to five horses. (Image: RSPCA)

He also caused further unnecessary suffering to one of these equines - a chestnut mare - relating to her lameness of her left foreleg and unnecessary suffering to a foxhound by failing to provide prompt or effective professional veterinary care and attention for his paraphimosis (unretracted penis) with associated ulceration and fracture. 

Following a two-day trial 43-year-old Baker was found guilty for all offences and on Thursday 16 May he was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment which has been suspended for 24 months. 

This included a 20 week sentence for the first offence, 20 weeks for the second offence, 12 weeks for the third offence, eight weeks for the fourth offence and 12 weeks for the fifth offence - which will all run concurrently. 

He was also ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. One of the horses - which had been placed in another person’s care - was also transferred to the care of the RSPCA. 

In a witness statement, provided to the court, RSPCA Inspector Neill Manley said he attended the location with RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Rohan Barker on 19 April 2023.

As permission was not granted by the owner to access the land, police were called along with a vet. Inspector Manley and ARO Barker inspected a large number of horses and dogs at the location with serious concern raised for five horses and one foxhound. 

At the dog kennels there were a number of female hounds - and advice was given to the owner about one of them who was lame on her front leg to get the dog checked by a vet.

Two of the horses were transferred to a family member but sadly one of these - the chestnut mare who was found to be severely lame - was put to sleep on advice from an independent vet on welfare grounds to prevent further suffering.

The other three horses - who were placed in the care of the RSPCA - were taken to a boarding establishment.