PAMELA BROWN'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN BROWNEY: DURHAM'S SHOCKING CASE OF NEGLECT

Pamela Brown, a resident of Browney, Durham, has been found guilty of severe neglect and cruelty towards two horses, Rosealee and Topsy, in a case that has shocked the local community and animal welfare organizations alike. Born on November 7, 1954, Brown’s address at the time of her conviction was 16 Browney Lane, Browney, Durham DH7 8HT. Her actions, spanning from January to May 2023, involved causing unnecessary suffering to these animals through neglectful care and inadequate attention to their health and well-being.

Brown, who has a history of animal-related offenses, was sentenced to an 11-week curfew as part of her punishment. This curfew requires her to remain within her caravan from 9 pm to 7 am daily, with electronic monitoring in place to ensure compliance. The restriction is set to last until May 21, 2024, and permits her limited movement of three meters for essential toilet visits. Additionally, she has been disqualified from dealing with any horses for a period of ten years, a significant penalty considering her previous history of animal neglect.

In her plea, Pamela Brown admitted to failing in her responsibilities to provide proper dental care for her horses and neglecting to investigate or address their poor physical condition. The horses were found to be underweight, with Topsy and Rosealee suffering from poor bodily health, which was attributed to her neglect. The court also ordered her to pay a victim services surcharge of £114 and costs amounting to £300, which she is scheduled to pay in monthly installments of £20 starting from April 3.

This case is not her first encounter with the law regarding animal welfare. In February 2015, Brown was subjected to an 18-month supervision order and a five-year ban on keeping horses after neglecting a horse so severely that it had to be euthanized immediately. The horse, kept in a field with 12 others in Langley Moor, Durham, was found to be in a deplorable state, with an overgrown and deformed hoof, and was severely underweight. The other horses in the herd were suffering from skin diseases and lice, highlighting a pattern of neglect and poor care.

Kevin Campbell of the RSPCA described the condition of the euthanized horse as “poor body condition, poor feet, poor living environment, and effectively it is difficult to see anything worse that could have been done to the horse.”

Brown’s daughter, Louise Nicholson, also known as Louise Doherty, was involved in the 2015 case but was cleared of five charges related to failing to ensure the welfare of a pony called Tiny and another unnamed horse. She was born in October 1988 and resides at the same address as her mother. She is also a co-owner of Doherty Stud Yard Ltd., alongside her husband Patrick Doherty, also known as Par Doherty.

During the current proceedings, Brown’s solicitor, David Ward, described her as “a very robust lady who is the matriarch,” and suggested that her difficulties with reading and writing might have contributed to her neglectful behavior. He expressed hope that she would not be involved in any further offending, emphasizing her age and health as mitigating factors.

In addition to the supervision order and disqualification from horse dealings, Pamela Brown was ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge. Her case continues to draw attention to ongoing issues of animal neglect and the importance of enforcement and accountability in animal welfare laws in Durham and beyond.