PETER AND JANE HOPE SENTENCED FOR ANIMAL NEGLECT IN WORCESTER

Peter John Hope, born 26 October 1959, and Jane Ann Hope, born 6 July 1965, of 14 The Orchard, Powick, Worcester WR2 4SE, were convicted in 2025 of multiple animal welfare offences related to the neglect of two horses. The horses were found underweight, infested with worms and lice, with overgrown hooves, and in a poor state of health.

Peter Hope, a self-employed driving instructor operating under the name Finale School of Motoring, and his wife Jane Hope, an animal artist, bred and sold horses under the names Foxboro Stud or Foxboro Performance Horses. They pleaded guilty to seven charges concerning the welfare of their horses, specifically two fillies named Fox and Rain.

They were found to have caused unnecessary suffering by failing to investigate or treat the causes of their horses’ poor conditions. The court heard they did not provide adequate veterinary care, proper diet, effective parasitic worm control, professional farriery for hoof care, lice treatment, or treatment for skin conditions like rain scald.

RSPCA Inspector Suzi Smith, who attended the Hopes’ property in Martley, Worcestershire, after receiving reports of concern, described the conditions. “The fenced-off area was approximately three acres with no grazing available. The ground was mud or dried mud, and the water trough was automatic but soiled. Straw remnants near the gate were also soiled.”

Inspector Smith observed Foxy, a chestnut young horse, wearing a blue rug that hung loosely, revealing her angular and emaciated condition. “Her spinal processes were visible, her pelvis was angular, and she lacked neck and hind leg muscle.” Rain, a buckskin young horse, was equally underweight, with no rug and a thick winter coat that concealed her poor body condition. “Despite the coat, her spine and ribs were prominent, and her pelvis was angular with visible bones. There was a noticeable muscle and fat deficit between her hind legs.”

A veterinarian confirmed that both horses were suffering, leading to their removal from the property. The Hopes received a warning notice to improve their care, including providing dry lying areas and sufficient access to high-quality forage. The court was informed that both the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare had previously advised the couple.

In mitigation, it was argued that the neglect was due to “incompetent care” rather than deliberate cruelty, and that Jane Hope was dealing with a “debilitating illness” at the time.

After the incident, Foxy has been rehomed and is now thriving, while Rain was euthanized due to severe lameness. Inspector Smith expressed disappointment, stating, “It is especially frustrating when advice has been given previously but not acted upon, resulting in unnecessary suffering. Owners must realistically assess their ability to meet their animals' needs, both physically and financially.”

The court sentenced the Hopes to a 12-week suspended custodial sentence, with additional four-week suspended sentences for each of the other six offences, all to run concurrently. They were ordered to pay £350 each, plus a victim surcharge of £154, and were disqualified from owning or keeping equines for ten years, until January 2035.