LYNDA SPALDING FROM HIGHBRIDGE SENTENCED FOR HORSE CRUELTY IN SHOCKING CASE

Lynda Spalding, a resident of Highbridge, was convicted in 2018 for her egregious neglect of two horses left to endure severe suffering due to untreated injuries. The case drew significant attention after concerns from members of the public prompted an investigation by the RSPCA.

Spalding, born around 1961 and residing on Sparks Way in Highbridge with the postcode TA9 3QL, had previously been banned from owning horses in 2014. Despite this, she was found to be the owner of the two animals when authorities responded to the reports of neglect. The horses had sustained deep wounds to their forelimbs, injuries that had been left untreated for an extended period, leading to immense pain and suffering.

During the investigation, RSPCA officers discovered that Spalding had used makeshift and inappropriate materials such as baby nappies, plastic bags, and sellotape to cover and protect the horses’ injuries. Instead of seeking professional veterinary care, she called a 'knacker’s man'—a person who deals with dead or dying animals—further highlighting her neglect and lack of proper animal welfare knowledge.

Both horses had to be euthanized due to the severity of their untreated wounds, a tragic outcome that underscored the gravity of the neglect. The case revealed that Spalding had violated a court order that disqualified her from owning horses until 2019, a restriction imposed after her previous conviction for cruelty towards animals.

Inspector Hayley Lawrence, who led the investigation alongside her colleague Inspector Marie Griffiths, expressed her distress over the case. She stated, “This was a very distressing case where horses were left to suffer needlessly as a result of irresponsible ownership and lack of care. These two horses were both left with serious injuries to their front legs for which no veterinary attention was sought.”

She further emphasized the breach of the disqualification order, noting, “Lynda Spalding was also in breach of a disqualification order, having been previously prosecuted and convicted of cruelty towards horses in 2014. Courts impose disqualification orders on people convicted on animal welfare offences to protect further animals from suffering, and it is saddening that she ignored that order and caused further suffering to these poor horses.”

Public support played a crucial role in bringing this case to light, with the RSPCA thanking the member of the public who contacted them. Inspector Lawrence highlighted the importance of community vigilance, saying, “We depend on the public to be our eyes and ears, and we take breaches of bans very seriously—as do the courts.”

In sentencing, Lynda Spalding was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail, ordered to pay £815 in court costs, and received a lifetime ban on owning horses. This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglect and the importance of animal welfare laws in protecting vulnerable animals in communities like Highbridge.