GORDON METCALFE AND DENISE CLARK'S HORRIBLE HORSE NEGLECT IN SUNDERLAND

In a disturbing case of animal cruelty, Gordon Hamilton Metcalfe and Denise Ann Clark, both residents of 3 Rutland Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton Le Spring, faced justice for their role in the severe neglect of dozens of horses in the City of Sunderland. The incident, which came to light in October 2020, revealed a shocking level of neglect that left many horses in dire conditions, prompting a thorough investigation by animal welfare authorities.

On October 15, 2020, RSPCA inspectors Terri-Ann Fannon and Gemma Lynch, along with Seema Ritson from World Horse Welfare, visited a property on Urwin Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear. Their inspection uncovered a heartbreaking scene: a total of 40 horses suffering from extreme neglect. Many of these animals were found in paddocks where the mud reached up to their knees, with some foals barely able to move due to being submerged in mud up to their chests. The conditions were deplorable, with the horses confined to areas heavily contaminated with faecal matter, lacking access to water, hay, or clean bedding.

According to an RSPCA spokesperson, the horses had no hard-standing areas to escape the mud, and several had overgrown hooves, a consequence of the owners’ failure to seek farrier treatment. Among the horses, Ms. Fannon described four Shetland ponies and two cob-type horses as being in the worst conditions she had ever encountered. She recounted that the horses stood on old hay, muck, and faeces that piled up to her shoulders, approximately four feet high, with no access in or out of the stable. The cobs, in particular, were unable to lift their heads due to the overwhelming muck, with their heads touching the stable roof. These animals had no food or water, and several had to be rescued after hours of digging out from the filth.

One particularly distressing sight was a piebald mare with thick, matted fur around her hooves. She was in poor body condition and suffered from severely overgrown hooves that had curled and twisted. The stable where she was kept had been nailed shut, requiring officers to pry it open with a crowbar to rescue her. Other horses and ponies were found standing in two feet of muck and mud, with some in a plastic greenhouse accessible only by climbing over rubble. One horse, in thin condition and suffering from lameness and arthritis, was discovered inside a horsebox, clearly in pain.

Despite having been advised a year earlier to avoid keeping horses during winter due to the extreme muddy conditions, the owners had made no significant improvements. The only addition was a makeshift area of uneven cobble bricks, which the horses could not stand on safely. The investigation revealed that the horses had been kept in these conditions for an extended period, with many suffering from overgrown hooves and nutritional deficiencies. A veterinarian examined the animals before they were taken into the care of the RSPCA. Of the 40 horses, 12 were suffering from overgrown hooves, and 10 were malnourished due to the owners’ neglect.

Ms. Fannon expressed her distress, stating that this was the worst case of neglect she had encountered in her career. She added that she had offered help to Mr. Metcalfe on numerous occasions, but these offers were refused. She also noted her relief that many of the horses had since been rehomed. The case highlighted the extent of the neglect and the failure of the owners to provide basic care, despite repeated warnings and advice.

During the court proceedings, the defendants claimed that the horses had been 'dumped' on them and that they bore no responsibility for the conditions during the period of the offences. However, the evidence presented painted a stark picture of prolonged neglect and cruelty.

Sentencing saw Gordon Metcalfe receive an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, along with a fine of £750 and a lifetime disqualification from keeping all animals, which he can contest after 10 years. Denise Clark was fined £180, ordered to pay £750 in costs, and banned from keeping any animals for 10 years. The case has drawn significant attention to animal welfare issues in the Sunderland area, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and accountability in animal care.