JACKIE JOHNSON HORSE DEALER FROM HARRISEAHEAD FACES CRUELTY CHARGES IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

Jackie Johnson, a horse dealer operating out of Lower Stadmoreslow Farm in Harriseahead, Stoke-on-Trent, has been found guilty of severe animal neglect and cruelty. The farm, located on Stadmoreslow Lane, became the focus of a detailed investigation after reports of deplorable conditions and the suffering of numerous animals. Johnson, who is also known as the mother of Claire Machin—a woman with her own history of horse abuse—was charged under Sections 9 and 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. These charges specifically relate to animal cruelty and the failure to uphold a duty of care towards the animals under her control.

Following a thorough investigation by Staffordshire County Council’s Animal Health team, authorities executed a warrant at Johnson’s farm, bringing together officers from Staffordshire Police, the World Horse Welfare organization, the Donkey Sanctuary, and the RSPCA. The inspections revealed a distressing scene: horses and donkeys kept in squalid, unsanitary conditions. The stables were filthy, with no dry or comfortable lying areas for the animals. Outside, the horses had no shelter from the elements, and many were found wet, dirty, and in poor health.

One particularly tragic discovery was a pony found collapsed in a field, covered with multiple rugs and tarpaulins in an apparent attempt to hide its condition. The animal was examined by a veterinarian and was subsequently euthanized due to its suffering. Another pony on the site was found with injuries and also had to be put down. The investigation continued with further visits to Stadmoreslow Farm, during which four more horses were seized. Several of these animals were in such poor health that they too had to be euthanized to end their suffering.

In the aftermath of the case, Johnson received a sentence of 12 weeks in prison for each offence, though these sentences were suspended for 12 months. She was ordered to pay nearly £3,500 in fines, along with an £80 victim surcharge. Additionally, she was disqualified from having any further involvement with horses, donkeys, or ponies for an indefinite period. The case highlighted the ongoing issues of animal cruelty within the region and the importance of enforcement to protect vulnerable animals.

As of 2019, the farm, previously under Johnson’s ownership, was transferred to her son, Wayne Sallis, who continues to trade horses from the same premises. Meanwhile, Claire Machin, Johnson’s daughter and also a convicted horse abuser, has adopted the alias Mandy Ding. The Machin, Johnson, and Sallis families are known to be travelers, which often complicates enforcement and oversight efforts in such cases.