STEPHEN POTTER AND WEST HARPTREE HORSE ABATTOIR CRUELTY SCANDAL REVEALED
| Red Rose Database
West Harptree Animal Abuser
Stephen Potter, a horse abattoir operator based at Whistley Farm in West Harptree, has been at the center of a disturbing animal welfare case that has drawn significant attention from authorities and animal rights organizations alike. Born in April 1965, Potter’s reputation has been marred by allegations of neglect and cruelty linked to his business practices, which have been scrutinized following a serious conviction in 2020.
Potter was associated with two companies, F Drury & Sons Ltd, located at Tockenham Corner, Swindon, and LJ Potter Ltd, operating out of his farm in West Harptree. Both companies, with Stephen Potter serving as director, faced charges after a detailed investigation by Wiltshire Council Trading Standards revealed multiple breaches of animal welfare laws. The case highlighted a particularly egregious incident involving the transportation and treatment of a horse from Northern Ireland to Potter’s abattoir.
On October 22, 2018, a lorry carrying a consignment of horses, including a grey mare, arrived at the abattoir late at night. CCTV footage presented in court showed the distressing scene of the mare lying on her side, unable to stand. Despite her repeated attempts to rise—she tried five times—she kept falling, eventually managing to stand but with obvious difficulty, unable to bear weight on her right foreleg and showing reluctance to move. Witnesses and expert veterinarians who reviewed the footage described her suffering as severe and ongoing.
The court heard that instead of seeking immediate veterinary assistance or humane euthanasia, Stephen Potter, who was not physically present at the scene but was monitoring the unloading process, instructed the driver to continue transporting the injured mare to his farm in Somerset. The vehicle made a subsequent journey, but the mare managed to stand during transit, prompting her to be unloaded again at the abattoir. CCTV footage then revealed her struggling to walk on her front leg, clearly in pain and in need of urgent medical attention. Experts testified that her condition was critical, and she was unfit for further transportation.
Despite her evident suffering, the mare was left in the lairage area overnight. It was only early the next morning that a veterinarian on duty noticed her condition. The vet assessed her as being in a severe state—breathing rapidly, distressed, and in obvious pain—and concluded that she required immediate euthanasia to prevent further suffering.
District Judge Tim Pattinson condemned Potter’s actions, stating that he had made a grave error of judgment that resulted in the horse enduring hours of unnecessary pain. The judge emphasized that high standards of animal welfare are expected in the UK, especially within commercial operations, and criticized Potter for his relaxed attitude towards the animal’s suffering. The judge pointed out that Potter had downplayed the severity of the horse’s pain and the urgency of her condition.
The court’s ruling resulted in a combined penalty of £22,170, which was divided between the two companies and included an additional £10,000 in costs awarded to Wiltshire Council. This case underscores ongoing concerns about animal cruelty in the industry, with past exposés such as the 2010 undercover footage by Animal Aid revealing even more shocking abuses at F R Drury, including sheep being decapitated alive, calves collapsing repeatedly, and goats attempting to escape the slaughter area.
Stephen Potter’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of animal welfare standards and the consequences of neglect and cruelty in the livestock industry, particularly in regions like West Harptree where such incidents have cast a shadow over local practices and regulations.
Potter was associated with two companies, F Drury & Sons Ltd, located at Tockenham Corner, Swindon, and LJ Potter Ltd, operating out of his farm in West Harptree. Both companies, with Stephen Potter serving as director, faced charges after a detailed investigation by Wiltshire Council Trading Standards revealed multiple breaches of animal welfare laws. The case highlighted a particularly egregious incident involving the transportation and treatment of a horse from Northern Ireland to Potter’s abattoir.
On October 22, 2018, a lorry carrying a consignment of horses, including a grey mare, arrived at the abattoir late at night. CCTV footage presented in court showed the distressing scene of the mare lying on her side, unable to stand. Despite her repeated attempts to rise—she tried five times—she kept falling, eventually managing to stand but with obvious difficulty, unable to bear weight on her right foreleg and showing reluctance to move. Witnesses and expert veterinarians who reviewed the footage described her suffering as severe and ongoing.
The court heard that instead of seeking immediate veterinary assistance or humane euthanasia, Stephen Potter, who was not physically present at the scene but was monitoring the unloading process, instructed the driver to continue transporting the injured mare to his farm in Somerset. The vehicle made a subsequent journey, but the mare managed to stand during transit, prompting her to be unloaded again at the abattoir. CCTV footage then revealed her struggling to walk on her front leg, clearly in pain and in need of urgent medical attention. Experts testified that her condition was critical, and she was unfit for further transportation.
Despite her evident suffering, the mare was left in the lairage area overnight. It was only early the next morning that a veterinarian on duty noticed her condition. The vet assessed her as being in a severe state—breathing rapidly, distressed, and in obvious pain—and concluded that she required immediate euthanasia to prevent further suffering.
District Judge Tim Pattinson condemned Potter’s actions, stating that he had made a grave error of judgment that resulted in the horse enduring hours of unnecessary pain. The judge emphasized that high standards of animal welfare are expected in the UK, especially within commercial operations, and criticized Potter for his relaxed attitude towards the animal’s suffering. The judge pointed out that Potter had downplayed the severity of the horse’s pain and the urgency of her condition.
The court’s ruling resulted in a combined penalty of £22,170, which was divided between the two companies and included an additional £10,000 in costs awarded to Wiltshire Council. This case underscores ongoing concerns about animal cruelty in the industry, with past exposés such as the 2010 undercover footage by Animal Aid revealing even more shocking abuses at F R Drury, including sheep being decapitated alive, calves collapsing repeatedly, and goats attempting to escape the slaughter area.
Stephen Potter’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of animal welfare standards and the consequences of neglect and cruelty in the livestock industry, particularly in regions like West Harptree where such incidents have cast a shadow over local practices and regulations.