ALFIE SOUTHALL'S HORSE CRUELTY IN BRIERLEY HILL AND STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN

Alfie Southall, a known traveller residing at 224 Thorns Road, Quarry Bank, Brierley Hill DY5 2LD, was found guilty of multiple charges related to animal cruelty, specifically concerning the neglect and mistreatment of his horses. The case drew significant attention due to the severity of the neglect and the tragic outcome for one of the animals involved.

Southall, born on January 21, 1972, faced four charges under the Animal Welfare Act, all centered around his failure to protect his horses from the harmful effects of ragwort poisoning and neglecting their basic needs. The court heard that he admitted to causing a poisonous substance, ragwort, to be ingested by his protected animals, and to neglecting essential care such as providing his horses with access to clean, fresh drinking water. Additionally, he acknowledged failing to address the deteriorating condition of his piebald mare and neglecting to investigate her symptoms, which ultimately led to her death.

The tragic incident unfolded in June 2013 when a 16-year-old mare was found in a dire state in a field on Timber Lane, Stourport-on-Severn. The mare, along with eight other horses, was grazing in an area where the ground was heavily overgrown with weeds, predominantly ragwort. The field was estimated to be between 50 and 60 percent covered in these toxic plants, which are known to cause irreversible liver damage in horses and livestock.

Concerned witnesses or perhaps the owner himself called a veterinarian to assess the condition of the animals. The vet’s examination revealed that the mare was staggering and in severe distress, with extensive liver damage caused by the ingestion of ragwort. The severity of her condition was such that immediate action was necessary. The veterinarian made the difficult decision to euthanize her on the spot to prevent further suffering. A subsequent post-mortem confirmed that ragwort poisoning was the cause of her deteriorating health and death.

Following the incident, the RSPCA issued a notice to Southall, instructing him to remove the ragwort from the grazing land and to address the welfare concerns of his other horses. Although Southall later complied with the advice, it was noted that the horses had already been living among the toxic weeds for a considerable period, which contributed to their poor health.

RSPCA Inspector Suzi Smith emphasized the dangers of ragwort, stating, “Ragwort can result in an extremely painful death for horses. This defendant said he knew of the dangers of ragwort for horses but saw no problem in continuing to let his horses graze on it. If there is no other grazing, horses will eat ragwort, and landowners and horse owners have a legal responsibility to clear the weed from their land.”

During the court proceedings, Southall accepted a ban on keeping horses for ten years, which was set to expire in February 2024. He also claimed that he had given away the remaining animals to prevent further issues. The court sentenced him to 250 hours of unpaid community work and ordered him to pay £1,000 towards the costs of the case.

This case highlights the importance of responsible animal ownership and the dangers posed by neglect and ignorance regarding toxic plants like ragwort. The tragic loss of the mare and the subsequent legal actions serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to meet animal welfare standards in Brierley Hill and the surrounding areas.