Couple who admitted animal cruelty after ponies found in 'extremely barbaric' conditions spared jail

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

An elderly couple who kept ponies in 'extremely barbaric conditions' were spared jail after admitting animal cruelty.

Jack and Barbara Carter, 75 and 73, were found to be keeping four severely neglected ponies 'imprisoned in deplorable conditions' at a smallholding on their property on Bank Bridge, Tarleton, Lancashire.

They were taken to court after an RSPCA investigation uncovered the neglect they attempted to hide, LancsLive reports.

A court heard how the RSPCA were called to investigate after a member of the public raised concerns about the welfare of a pony believed to be in their care.

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The inspectors attempted to look around the property on many occasion but found that Mr Carter had many excuses as to why a meeting could not take place.

RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald attended the address on Monday, March 22 2021 and could see a stable block behind the couple’s house but was unable to access this without permission.

The inspector was concerned that the defendant was avoiding a visit so returned to the area again to view the stable from a public footpath nearby - where she saw that a green sheet and wire mesh now covered the doorway of the stable she saw on her first visit.

Despite several attempt at communications, she had no luck setting up a meeting with the couple and instead, she arranged a formal visit with Lancashire Constabulary which took place on Wednesday, April 7.

She met with Jack Carter who denied there were any ponies or horses at the site on a number of occasions but when she asked to see inside the stable at the back of the house he agreed.

She told the court of her shock from what she found in