GEORGE WATSON FROM WEST CORNFORTH SENTENCED FOR HORSE ABUSE NEAR BISHOP MIDDLEHAM

George Robert Watson, born on September 26, 1972, and residing at 17 Cedar Terrace in West Cornforth, Ferryhill DL17 9NG, has been convicted in connection with a serious case of animal neglect involving a horse named Delboy. Watson, who often goes by the name Robert Watson and is known as a traveller, was found responsible for causing significant suffering to the animal, which was discovered with a severe head injury caused by neglect.

On May 5, 2023, an RSPCA Inspector responded to concerns raised about the welfare of a horse in a field near the A1 motorway close to Bishop Middleham, Ferryhill. Upon arrival, the inspector observed a tethered piebald stallion cob horse, later identified as Delboy. The inspector immediately noticed that the horse’s head collar was so tightly fitted that the metal clip had embedded into the horse’s skin, causing a painful wound. The injury was severe enough to be visible from a distance, with the clip having dug into the left side of Delboy’s face and jaw, resulting in a deep gash that was oozing pus.

The inspector’s witness statement detailed the distressing scene: “The clip on the left hand side of Delboy’s face had dug into the side of his cheek and caused a deep gash which was oozing puss. The whole left hand side of the pony’s face was extremely swollen, it was noticeable from a distance away.”

Following the discovery, a specialist equine veterinarian was called to examine Delboy. The vet confirmed that the horse was suffering from pain and injury. The veterinary surgeon’s statement revealed that the soft tissues around the wound were swollen and tender, and that the embedded clip caused significant pain when removed. The veterinarian also noted that the tight head collar had likely been in place for several weeks, contributing to the severity of the injury. The vet emphasized that such injuries could have been easily prevented if the owner had regularly checked the horse’s equipment and health.

In their official statement, the veterinarian expressed concern that the owner failed to recognize the signs of distress and neglect. They stated, “By failing to identify a tight headcollar which therefore caused painful wounds to the face, and by also failing to identify wounds that were present and immediately removing the headcollar and seeking veterinary attention to provide first aid and pain relief as a minimum, it is my professional opinion that this owner has caused unnecessary pain and suffering to this horse.”

It was later revealed that Watson had falsely claimed on Facebook that Delboy had been stolen. In reality, the horse had been removed from his care due to weeks of neglect. Watson subsequently signed Delboy over to the RSPCA, which took responsibility for his ongoing care. The horse was transported to an RSPCA facility, where he received veterinary treatment and has since made a good recovery. Once fully healed, efforts will be made to find Delboy a new, loving home.

During the court proceedings, Watson’s defense cited personal issues, including a breakup and a foot injury, as mitigating factors. However, the court’s decision was firm. After sentencing, the RSPCA inspector expressed satisfaction with the outcome: “I’m pleased we were able to get Delboy to safety and have his wounds treated. It’s so important that horse owners regularly check on their animals for signs of discomfort or poor health, especially when they are left wearing head collars or rugs for any length of time. I’m so pleased that Delboy has made such a good recovery from his wounds, and that he will now go on to be adopted into a loving new home.”

As part of his sentence, Watson was ordered to pay a fine of £300, along with a victim surcharge of £80 and costs amounting to £725. Additionally, he was disqualified from owning horses for three years, a ban that will expire in February 2027.