A Baildon horse owner who caused unnecessary suffering to three of his charges which were seized by RSPCA inspectors has been sentenced.

Harry Brewer, 48, of Esholt Lane Caravan Site, appeared for trial at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court in September and was found guilty of three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

He appeared in court for sentencing this week, when he was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard that between February and March 2016, Brewer caused unnecessary suffering to a 10-month-old skewbald filly called ‘Juliette’ (also known as ‘Trixie’), a 10-month-old bay colt called ‘Tom Jones’ (also known as ‘Sea Biscuit’) and a three-year-old piebald mare called ‘Lily’ by failing to investigate their poor body conditions and weight loss. He was also found to have kept the three horses in filthy living conditions, failing to provide them with adequate bedding, clean water and a suitable food source.

In 2016, photos began circulating on social media, showing the bay colt ‘Tom Jones’ tied up in a makeshift harness made from string and rope, so tightly that he couldn’t move his head or feet.

Following an outcry from the public, the RSPCA was called and inspectors visited the site along with police, eventually finding ‘Tom Jones’ hidden away in a shed at the site.

Among several horses and ponies kept at the site, three were found to be suffering after a vet examined them, and police were able to remove them and place them in the care of the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Carol Neale, who led the investigation, said: “The photos of Tom Jones seen last year on social media still haunt us, as I’m sure they do many other animal lovers.

“We acted as quickly as we could within the remit of the law to get access to the caravan site and find this foal, and that’s when we discovered the other two foals who were also suffering. Brewer had tried to hide them from us, but with the police and a vet present we were able to locate them.

“This has been a long and testing case, and is a good example of how our work investigating cruelty takes a great deal of caution and care.

“It’s taken many months of our team working with the foals to get them to a healthy weight and the difference in them is obvious to see.

“Very sadly, the mare Lily had major issues with her mouth which she was born with and she had to be put to sleep by a vet on humane grounds.

“Happily though, Brewer was deprived of Juliette and Tom Jones as part of his sentence which means we should now be able to find them loving homes and secure them the future they deserve. They are absolutely super little horses.”

As well as the unpaid work, Brewer was ordered to pay costs of £1,500 and a £85 victim surcharge.