At Hyndburn Magistrates Court, Accrington, Lancashire today, Monday 30 June, Allan Clynch, of 6 Barn Meadow, Gt Harwood, Lancs, was before the bench for sentencing following a conviction earlier this month, for breaching a ban on keeping horses.

Following a complaint received by the ILPH on 3rd March 2003 about an abandoned pony in Alan Ramsbottom Way, Gt. Harwood. ILPH Field Officer Chris Williamson was sent to investigate and he found the abandoned pony, known as Frankie, a 13 hh bay 7 year old stallion, which was removed to ILPH Penny Farm near Blackpool for safe keeping.

Subsequent enquiries revealed that the owner of the pony, Allan Clynch, who had been keeping Frankie in his garage prior to abandoning him, had been banned from keeping horses for 3 years in May last year.

Hyndburn Magistrates Court today sentenced Clynch to a 12 month probation order which will overlap an existing one and because he already has extensive fines to pay from previous convictions, all costs have been waived.

Comments ILPH Field Officer, Chris Williamson, "Mr Clynch has blatantly disregarded his disqualification by continuing to keep a pony. He then attempted to deny the fact to the Police and welfare organisations. We are bitterly disappointed with this result as it clearly does not reflect the severity of his crime.

"At the hearing the Court made it clear to Clynch that his ban covered all equines, not just horses, and any further breach of the ban would result in a probable custodial sentence."

Inspector Sarah Hill of the RSPCA said, "We are very disappointed that the costs have not been awarded to the RSPCA to cover the amount of time their inspectors have put into this case. We feel that he has been treated very leniently."

Fortunately for Frankie he will remain in the care of the ILPH for the rest of his life as he has been signed over to them.

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