A BRADFORD man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after causing unnecessary suffering to a pregnant horse that died of an infected neck wound.
Paul Pratt, of Park Crescent, Peel Park, admitted failing to treat the wound, which was caused by a crudely repaired bridle that dug into the horse's flesh over a two-week period.
The 29-year-old was handed a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for two years, ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work in the community and pay £1,000 costs.
He also received a lifetime ban from keeping, or owning, any animal.
The incident happened between January 23 and February 6 and yesterday Pratt appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to seek veterinary care.
The three-year-old horse, called Princess, was found in a field off Cranmer Road, Bradford on February 6 this year and later died.
Nigel Monaghan, prosecuting, said: "The vets' report says the twine of the collar was too tight, a wound developed and became infected.
"SeptIcemia set in and the horse eventually died. It had a mark under its chin. It had never been to the vets."
Ian Hudson, mitigating, said: "The horse was in a good bodily condition. The injuries were not intentionally caused.
"He accepts he should have paid more attention to the area below the collar."
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