JOHN HUMPHREY FROM SELBY INVOLVED IN HORSE ABUSE AND STOLEN GOODS CASES

John Michael Humphrey, a resident of Sandway Drive, Thorpe Willoughby, Selby, was at the center of a disturbing case involving the neglect and mistreatment of numerous horses and donkeys. In 2018, Humphrey pleaded guilty to 25 charges under the Animal Welfare Act, which related to the improper care of 33 animals kept across three different locations in the vicinity of Selby, specifically in Gowdall, Gateforth, and near the A63 bypass.

Investigations conducted by RSPCA inspectors Alice Cooper and Claire Mitchell revealed the severity of the situation. The animals were found living in extremely unsanitary and hazardous conditions, with many suffering from severe malnutrition. The environment was described as dirty and unsafe, with no access to clean, fresh drinking water or adequate food sources. Several of the horses were in such poor health that two had to be euthanized on welfare grounds, and one horse tragically died while giving birth.

Inspector Cooper emphasized the complexity of the case, noting that the horses were spread across three different sites. Many of the animals exhibited signs of distress and nervousness, likely due to lack of handling and the stressful living conditions. Some of the horses had only recently been brought to the locations, with the Gowdall site being affected by local flooding, which limited their access to proper shelter. The horses at the Gateforth site had been transferred from a dying farmer and were already in poor condition upon arrival. Humphrey claimed that the horses at the third site had access to a stream and that water troughs were filled daily, with supplementary feed provided. Despite his assertions, the overall condition of the animals indicated neglect.

Humphrey took responsibility for the animals, signing over all the horses to the RSPCA for rehoming once they recovered, and the donkeys were handed over to The Donkey Sanctuary. The authorities expressed gratitude to organizations such as World Horse Welfare and The Donkey Sanctuary, which assisted in managing the situation and took some of the animals into their care, with plans for rehoming.

As a result of his actions, Humphrey was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115. Additionally, he received a lifetime ban from keeping any animals. The case highlighted the importance of animal welfare and the ongoing efforts of rescue organizations to protect vulnerable animals.

In a separate incident in March 2021, Humphrey, now residing on Lunnsfield Lane in Selby, was involved in a case concerning stolen goods. Police spotted three stolen trailers from Claughton in Morecambe on Humphrey’s truck. He admitted to handling stolen goods, explaining that he had offered his vehicle for loan and panicked upon realizing the trailers might be stolen when police approached. Humphrey was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and was subjected to a curfew. He was also ordered to pay costs amounting to £535. This case further underscored his involvement in criminal activities beyond animal neglect, painting a broader picture of his criminal record.