ANDREW DAVID HINDE'S ABERFORD ANIMAL ABUSE SCANDAL: JAIL TIME FOR SERIAL CRUELTY

Andrew David Hinde, a man with a troubling history of animal cruelty, has been convicted and sentenced to prison for his ongoing neglect and abuse of animals at his properties in Aberford, Leeds. Born on July 1, 1965, Hinde, who previously gained notoriety as an international horse show judge and breeder of Dartmoor ponies at Pumphill Stud, had his actions catch up with him after years of blatant disregard for animal welfare laws.

Hinde’s criminal record includes a 2011 conviction for horse cruelty, which resulted in a three-year ban from keeping horses. Despite this, he flagrantly violated a court order in March 2015, when he ignored a 12-year ban on keeping animals and continued to care for a large number of horses and other animals. His neglect was extensive, involving approximately 50 horses and two foals, all of which suffered from severe conditions of malnutrition and poor health.

The 2015 conviction was related not only to cruelty towards horses but also involved the mistreatment of pedigree British short-haired cats. These cats were bred for sale at the property he shared with his parents, Raymond and Cynthia Hinde, located at Becca Farm in Aberford. The authorities found dozens of these cats at the property, which further underscored the extent of his animal cruelty. Both Hinde and his parents were convicted of animal cruelty during this investigation.

The court proceedings revealed that Hinde’s neglect was ongoing and egregious. In February 2017, RSPCA inspectors visited Westfield Farm near Kirk Smeaton, where Hinde kept more than 50 ponies in addition to the 20 horses at Becca Farm. During this inspection, inspectors discovered some ponies in dire health, with visible ribs, hips, and spines indicating severe malnutrition. One pony was found emaciated, suffering from hunger, infested with lice, and with overgrown feet. Tragically, another pony, exhausted and suffering from hypothermia, was euthanized on the spot to alleviate its suffering. The inspectors also found that this pony was infested with worms and infected with salmonella, highlighting the extent of neglect.

Further investigations in July 2017 at Becca Farm led to the seizure of 20 horses. The conditions in which these animals were kept were deplorable, with many left to fend for themselves in inadequate shelter and with insufficient food. Several animals were found to be suffering from hypothermia, and many were so undernourished that they appeared