CHLOE MORGAN AND PAUL WILLIAMS FROM LLANGENNECH SENTENCED FOR BRUTALITY TOWARDS PONY IN LLANELLI

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community of Llangennech and Llanelli, two individuals, Chloe Morgan and Paul Williams, faced justice after being found guilty of inflicting severe cruelty upon a defenseless pony named Emry. The incident, which took place in the vicinity of Llangennech, was captured on video and subsequently shared widely on social media, igniting outrage across the nation.

Chloe Morgan, born circa 1998 and residing in Tirgof, Llangennech, was recorded furiously whipping Emry multiple times. Her actions, which caused unnecessary suffering to the animal, were brought to light after the footage was posted online. Morgan appeared in court alongside Paul Williams, born around 1970 and living in Dan Yr Allt, Felinfoel, Llanelli. Williams was filmed kicking the pony during the same incident. Both defendants admitted to the charges against them, which involved acts of violence and cruelty towards the animal.

The presiding judge described the case as a “vicious assault,” emphasizing the brutality of the actions. Veterinary experts who examined Emry testified that the pony would likely suffer long-term psychological trauma as a result of the abuse. The RSPCA prosecutor, Nick Devonold, explained that the case came to light after the video was circulated on social media platforms, where it garnered over two million views on Facebook alone. The footage prompted widespread condemnation and highlighted the need for accountability.

Four veterinary surgeons were called upon to analyze the video and provide their professional opinions. Their assessments confirmed that Emry exhibited clear signs of fear and distress, unable to escape the situation. The experts rejected Morgan’s social media claims that she had sat on the pony peacefully for ten minutes before it became spooked, and that she had only struck the animal once or twice. Instead, they pointed out that Morgan was too tall to be mounted on the pony comfortably, had been mounted improperly, and that her chastisement was excessive and driven by anger. The pony’s bucking was not its fault but was a response to the mistreatment it endured, which could have lasting psychological effects.

The court heard that the actions of Morgan and Williams were brutal, unjustified, and entirely inappropriate. During police interviews, Williams admitted to kicking Emry, stating he had been trying to “break the horse in” for his eight-year-old child. Morgan claimed she attempted to mount the pony while it was tied up, fearing it might run away. It was noted that Emry was sold as a “companion pony,” meaning it was not intended for riding. Disputes arose over the number of times Morgan whipped Emry, but she acknowledged the pony was distressed and that she stopped her actions.

Since the incident, Emry has been voluntarily rehomed, as reported to the court. Judge David Parsons condemned the defendants’ behavior, stating, “Part of our duty is to analyze what we have seen and what we have learnt about the offence from the RSPCA experts, but quite frankly we did not need to see it. It’s clear to us this was a vicious assault on this pony for no reason whatsoever. We discard your account that either of you were at any harm. The animal was tethered and this was a terrible offence. Both of you should have known better – there are no excuses for what happened.”

Judge Parsons further ordered that both Morgan and Williams be disqualified from keeping any animals for a period of eight years, a ban that will expire in March 2025. Morgan received a sentence of three months in a young offenders’ institution, while Williams was sentenced to four months in custody; however, both sentences were suspended for 12 months. Additionally, both individuals were ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, pay costs of £400, and a victim surcharge of £115. The court’s ruling underscores the seriousness of animal cruelty and the importance of safeguarding animal welfare in the community of Llanelli and beyond.