AMANDA ANN MUNRO FROM SCHLES FACES LIFETIME BAN AFTER HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN LEEDS

Amanda Ann Munro, a resident of Rakehill Road in Scholes, Leeds LS15 4AL, was found guilty of severe animal neglect involving her care of three Shetland ponies and a goat. Her case drew significant attention after authorities uncovered the appalling conditions in which these animals were kept, prompting a criminal trial at Bradford Crown Court in May 2017.

Munro, who also served as a parish councillor for Scholes on Barwick in Elmet and Scholes Parish Council, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to her animals and neglecting their basic needs, as stipulated under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The charges detailed her failure to provide adequate food, water, and proper living conditions for the ponies and goat over a period spanning from November to December 2015.

The three Shetland ponies, named Cocoa, Cookie, and Oreo, were discovered in a paddock adjacent to Munro’s residence. Inspectors found them emaciated, with their bodies showing signs of severe malnutrition, and wading through a thick layer of feces, indicating neglect and poor hygiene. The conditions were described as “disgusting” by RSPCA inspector Carol Neale, who emphasized the distress of the animals, referring to them as “mummy, daddy, and baby.”

In addition to the ponies’ suffering, the inspection revealed the plight of a lone goat housed within a building on the same field. When authorities arrived, the goat was found confined in a small space with no access to food or water, and its hooves were overgrown, indicating neglect. The inspector recounted that the goat was calling out from a tiny window, and Munro claimed the door had jammed, preventing access. Authorities had to forcibly break down the door to reach the animal.

Following her conviction, Munro initially received a five-year ban from owning, keeping, dealing, or transporting equines and goats. However, this restriction was later extended to a lifetime ban, effectively prohibiting her from owning such animals indefinitely. The decision was made after her appeal against the conviction was rejected in January 2018.

In December 2016, on veterinary advice, the animals were removed from her care and placed under the protection of the charity World Horse Welfare. Sarah Tucker, a field officer with the organization, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, noting the long duration of the case but emphasizing the importance of animal welfare. She described the ponies as being “huddled in a corner,” looking dull and lethargic, and stated that their suffering could have been easily alleviated with proper care and a clean environment.

As part of her sentencing, Munro received a 12-month community order, which included 200 hours of unpaid work and a financial penalty of £3,250 in costs. The court also imposed a deprivation order on the three ponies and the goat, and ordered the confiscation of an additional ten equines remaining in her possession. The lifetime ban on keeping animals was enforced with no possibility of appeal for seven years, underscoring the severity of her misconduct and the legal system’s stance on animal cruelty.