EDWARD BATH FROM ABERTILLERY SENTENCED FOR HORSE AND ANIMAL NEGLECT IN WALES

Edward 'Eddie' George Bath, born on June 4, 1961, and residing at Arrael View in Abertillery, has been officially convicted of multiple animal welfare violations. The case centers around his failure to properly care for a significant number of animals, including horses, goats, and poultry, at his property in Abertillery, South Wales.

Bath's neglect came to light when the RSPCA conducted an inspection at a farm located on Old Blaina Road, Abertillery. During this investigation, inspectors discovered a distressing scene: 42 horses were found in deplorable conditions, with two of them so severely neglected that they had to be euthanized on the advice of a veterinarian. The horses were found to be malnourished, with inadequate food provided, and the stables were in a filthy state, reflecting a severe lack of proper care and hygiene.

RSPCA inspector Christine McNeil described the situation as deeply troubling. She stated, “Sadly these animals were not cared for appropriately. The horses outside were not given enough food and were not provided for. The stables were filthy and it was just appalling to see these numbers of animals poorly being cared for.”

Following the initial findings, the RSPCA issued warnings to Bath, urging him to improve the conditions at his property. These warnings specifically addressed the large number of horses, as well as two goats and poultry, which were also found to be in poor condition. Despite these warnings, Bath failed to take corrective action. In March, the RSPCA returned to the premises with a warrant and removed a total of 37 horses, along with 20 poultry and two goats—one of which was pregnant. One of the horses was euthanized due to its health issues, again on veterinary advice.

All animals seized from Bath’s property have now been transferred to the RSPCA’s care and are currently undergoing the process of rehoming. The case resulted in Bath being sentenced to an 18-week custodial sentence for each of the four animal welfare offences, with all sentences to run concurrently. The sentences were suspended for 18 months, and Bath was also ordered to complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a total of £1,675 in costs and charges. As part of the court’s ruling, Bath is now banned from keeping any animals for the rest of his life, reflecting the severity of his neglect and the importance of animal welfare enforcement in Wales.