ROBERTA CLEERE'S HORSE ABUSE SCANDAL IN CAMBORNE: SECOND CHANCE HORSE RESCUE CRISIS

Roberta Kirsten Adele Cleere, born on October 11, 1977, and residing on Dolcoath Avenue in Camborne, Cornwall, has been at the center of a disturbing case involving the severe mistreatment of multiple horses at her sanctuary. Her actions, which led to her conviction in 2016, have cast a shadow over her reputation and raised serious concerns about animal welfare standards at her facility.

Cleere was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to several horses under her care, including a Shetland cob-type horse named Prince, a Shetland cob-type horse called Beau, another named Jess, and a piebald cob-type horse named Sampson. The court heard how she failed to provide essential veterinary care for injuries and health issues, resulting in animals suffering from untreated wounds, poor body condition, and emaciation.

The case revealed that Prince, who had a leg injury, was neglected for over a week without proper veterinary attention, leading to further suffering. Additionally, Prince's eye infection was left untreated, exacerbating his condition. Beau and Jess, both suffering from poor body condition, were not investigated or treated adequately, despite clear signs of neglect. Sampson, suffering from weight loss, was also neglected, with no proper investigation into his health issues.

Prosecutor Kevin Withey, representing the RSPCA, detailed how Cleere repeatedly ignored warnings and advice from animal welfare authorities, neglecting her responsibilities as a sanctuary owner. The court was shown evidence of her failure to care for the horses properly, despite her claims of being devoted to their well-being.

Rob Ecclestone, defending Cleere, argued that her love for horses was genuine and that her establishment, the Second Chance Horse Rescue Centre, which she founded in 2003, was motivated by her passion for animals. At the time of the RSPCA's intervention in December 2015, the sanctuary housed between 35 and 40 horses. It was also revealed that Cleere's then 17-year-old daughter, Chandon Cleere, now owns eight of the horses, with two more scheduled for rehoming in the near future.

In October 2016, Cleere was sentenced to 24 weeks in custody, suspended for two years, along with 100 hours of unpaid work. She was ordered to pay costs of £1250 and a victim surcharge. Additionally, she received a ten-year ban from keeping horses, which will expire in October 2026. However, she breached her suspended sentence and her disqualification order. As a result, she was fined £300, subjected to a four-week curfew from 10 pm to 6 am, and ordered to pay an additional £375 in court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

This case highlights the ongoing issues surrounding animal welfare and the importance of strict oversight of rescue centers to prevent such neglect and suffering from occurring in the future.