Latest news with #RSPCA
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Man, 26, who sexually abused & performed sex act next to horses at stables before he was caught on CCTV avoids jail
A MAN who sexually abused and performed a sex act next to horses at stables before he was caught on CCTV has managed to avoid jail. Corey Coleman, 26, accepted he had an "unhealthy interest" in horses after footage revealed his various disturbing acts on the animals. 4 4 4 Wales ' Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court heard how Coleman, from Llanharan, regularly volunteered in helping look after the horses at the Ynyscrug livery yard. But on June 27 last year, the man was found lying in a passageway between the stables with "serious injuries" to his back. Coleman was hospitalised with spinal fractures and was given a back brace - but was "back at the stables" not long after, RSPCA prosecutor Geraint Richards said. The owner of the stables, Alex Hill, questioned Coleman as to how he got the injury, to which he said one of the horses attempted to mount him. Mr Hill then decided to look at the CCTV, which "concerned him enough to look deeper into it," Mr Richards said. When Mr Hill checked the footage from Coleman's stables visits on July 15 and 29, he saw that he had been abusing horses. Coleman was captured "teasing and arousing" a horse, with the date he was injured showing a similar disturbing incident. After the yard's owner called cops, Coleman was then arrested and made an "unsolicited" comment to officers that his actions were "part of the cleaning," the court heard. RSPCA prosecutor Mr Richards explained how the stables were "quite busy" and there were often "children in the vicinity" outside. He added that it was likely the abuse had occurred "for many months" due to the horses' behaviour during the incidents that "showed they had been conditioned to be used to this sort of attention". Horror as over 200 animals who 'crammed in tiny spaces' seized from Co Kildare property by ISPCA Daniel Maggs, defending, confessed it was a "very unusual case" and added that Coleman struggled to discuss the heinous incidents because of his "embarrassment". He also said his client already endured an "element of instant karma" after his injuries and accepted he had "an unhealthy interest" in stallions. Coleman had been involved in an equine events organisation but had obviously "destroyed any future career of that nature" and was now receiving counselling. The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a bay stallion named Bear and a palomino stallion named Benny by sexually abusing them. He also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the welfare of the same stallions and failing to ensure the welfare of a bay mare named Nala who was exposed to the risk of injury from the stallions. The court heard how there are two dogs and two cats at Coleman's main place of residency - his girlfriend of nine years's home - and two dogs at his mum's where he stays "from time to time". Coleman's solicitor Mr Maggs said it was be "fair to say" his relationship is now "on the rocks" due to the shocking discoveries. Coleman was also disqualified from owning, keeping or transporting horses, or participating in their keeping for half a decade and ordered to pay costs of £474.
ITV News
7 hours ago
- ITV News
Four puppies found abandoned in shoebox box at Hampshire cemetery
The RSPCA is appealing for information after four young puppies were found abandoned in a shoebox that had been dumped in a cemetery. The pups, thought to be just days old, were discovered by a member of the public who rushed them to the vet who contacted the animal welfare charity to report the concerning discovery. The pups, who have been named Draco, Malfoy, Bones and Gravy by rescuers, were found at Westbourne Cemetery in Emsworth around 3:30pm on Tuesday (24 June). RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Morgan Ellison said: "It's heartbreaking that these puppies were abandoned in such a thoughtless way. They should be with their mum but instead were thrown away like rubbish. "They were found by someone attending their mum's grave and taken to the vet where the nurse took them into care overnight before calling it in to us. We're so grateful to everyone who has shown kindness by helping them. "They are now at The Stubbington Ark where they are getting care and support. "It's never the right thing to do to abandon an animal. There is plenty of help and advice out there for struggling pet owners, such as on the RSPCA's website." Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA's appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference 01556113. The team at The Stubbington Ark, the rescue centre run by the RSPCA Solent Branch, are also appealing for help to cover the cost of caring for the pups. New figures released by the RSPCA show a massive 33% annual increase in cruelty reports to the charity during the summer period across England and Wales - with reports on the rise in Hampshire too. The animal welfare charity has released the statistics as part of its Summer Cruelty Campaign, showing the side of this season which many people don't see, when animal cruelty reports peak. In June, July and August last year across England and Wales the RSPCA took 34,401* cruelty calls to their emergency line - compared to 25,887* the year before, showing an increase by a third. On average, it took 374 reports of cruelty against animals every single day during this period, or one call every two minutes the line was open. And in Hampshire the number of cruelty reports over the summer months increased from 657 (2023) to 779 reports last year, an 18% increase.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Llanharan horse sex abuser Corey Coleman sentenced in court
A man with "an unhealthy interest" in horses was found to be sexually abusing the animals after a stallion injured him while trying to mount Coleman, 26, assaulted two stallions and a mare at Ynyscrug Livery in Pantybrad, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where he helped was only caught after being found injured on the ground on 27 June 2024 in what Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court heard was "an element of instant karma".Coleman, of Llanharan, admitted two charges of subjecting a horse to sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse and two of failing to protect animals for which he was responsible and was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Geraint Richards, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said despite suffering "serious injuries", including to his back, in June, it was not long before Coleman was "back at the stables".When asked by stable owner Alex Hill about his injuries, Coleman suggested that "one of the stallions in the yard had attempted to mount him". This prompted him to check CCTV footage from 15 July that showed Coleman "teasing and arousing" a from 27 June - the date he was injured - and 29 July also showed similar incidents, but the court heard it was hard to establish the details of what exactly was Richards said the stables were "quite busy" and there were often "children in the vicinity" outside and it was likely the abuse had gone on "for many months". Daniel Mags, defending, admitted it was a "very unusual case", and Coleman found it difficult to discuss the incidents because of his "embarrassment".He added his client had already suffered an "element of instant karma" following his injuries and accepted he had "an unhealthy interest" in was previously involved in an equine events organisation, but had "destroyed any future career of that nature" and was now having counselling. The court heard the abused animals - stallions Benny and Bear and a mare called Nala - were "fit and healthy upon examination".Chairman of magistrates Jeffery Edwards said Coleman committed "numerous offences over a prolonged period of time" but there was a "prospect of rehabilitation".Coleman was also disqualified from owning, keeping or transporting horses, or participating in their keeping, for five years and ordered to pay costs of £474.
BBC News
12 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Puppies dumped in graveyard 'lucky to survive hot weather'
A litter of four, day-old puppies found dumped in a shoebox in a graveyard are lucky to have survived the hot spell of weather, the RSPCA has four puppies, all males, were handed in to the RSPCA Solent Branch, Fareham, Hampshire, after they were found by a member of the public in the Portsmouth area on 24 charity said they were "very lucky" they were found as they need feeding every two hours and "due to the hot weather this could have had a very different outcome".Staff at the centre have set up a puppy rota to hand rear the litter. They will be placed into foster homes in the coming weeks before being put up for adoption once they reach eight weeks old. The charity said: "As always, our amazing team here at The Ark, immediately got to action in caring for these sweet boys. "All four puppies are bottle feeding well, gaining weight and just about to open their eyes."Although our dedicated staff are volunteering round-the-clock care every few hours, time away from their biological mum at this critical time will be having an impact on their development - both physically and psychologically."The staff are highly concerned for the welfare of mum who has been separated from her puppies. This must be a distressing time for her." The centre added it would be able to establish their breed "in the coming weeks when more of their characteristics come through".After taking in the litter the charity started a fundraising appeal to help cover food and care for the puppies and their further needs, including vaccinations, microchipping and Solent Branch, known as The Stubbington Ark, is an independent branch of the RSPCA, and a separately registered charity. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
RSPCA, farmers unite in criticism of WA's 'grey' animal cruelty laws
Farmers and experts say Western Australia's animal welfare laws are no longer fit for purpose, leaving residents exposed to surprising legal risks. The state's Animal Welfare Act provides the framework for the care and welfare of animals, as well as defining various forms of cruelty. But experts say the laws, and the regulations that underpin them, are "too broad". RSPCA WA chief executive Ben Cave said it was often difficult to draw the line between a humane killing and animal cruelty. He said he was waiting for recommendations from a 2019 independent review of the act to be implemented and the law needed to be modernised. Teresa Collins, from Murdoch University's School of Veterinary Science, said the laws failed to take WA's diverse environment into account. "The same legislation needs to cover the management of rangeland cattle that hardly see humans up in our northern areas of WA, compared to the management of dairy cows and mainstream beef systems in our South West," she said. Thousands of kangaroos are hit by cars on roads every year and motorists are often unsure of what to do when an animal is injured. Professor Collins said the law provided little support or structure for what an individual — who may never have encountered an animal, let alone euthanased one — is meant to do in this situation. In a statement, WA's Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions said: "The best thing to do if you encounter displaced or injured native wildlife is to call the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055." DBCA said the helpline gave advice on dealing with the animal and who to contact for assistance, including people with the authority to carry out euthanasia. When the ABC called the Wildcare Helpline at 5:30pm on a Thursday, a recorded message said there was a shortage of volunteers to take calls and directed callers to a website containing a list of wildlife organisations. "Science would say [the injured animal] needs to be humanely destroyed as soon as possible, but if you have no implement or you have no firearm on you or you don't have a licence to use one, then you would have to seek the help of someone," Professor Collins said. "Very small animals can be potentially humanely destroyed by blunt trauma, but that's not likely to be the case in kangaroos of reasonable weight. "It's a really challenging scenario because you would think that there would be some person available to assist within a reasonable time." Native wildlife is protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 which is enforced by DBCA but also sits under the Animal Welfare Act which is enforced by the RSPCA. The varying way the laws can be applied was evident in two recent high-profile cases. Last month, three men in the Goldfields were fined a total of nearly $130,000 for animal cruelty offences after bludgeoning a pigeon with a golf club multiple times. Last year Mid West livestock farmer Calvin Royce found eight of his young calves dead or dying after they were deliberately run over in a paddock by an intoxicated driver. The driver of the vehicle was jailed but was eligible for parole after two months. "It doesn't sit right with me," Mr Royce said. "It's a pigeon; they got the maximum fine for a pigeon. "I'm not condoning cruelty to any animal, a pigeon, a cow or whatever, but I think there is a big difference between killing some pretty innocent calves and killing a pigeon." WA Farmers president Steve McGuire said the term cruelty was open to individual interpretation based on a person's personal experience and knowledge. "What I might think is cruel, you might not. Putting that subjective term into law becomes problematic," he said. Mr McGuire said this was problematic in a legal setting, with officials only having two options under WA law: prosecute or do nothing. "If you go into a courtroom, you're dealing with a judge or prosecutor who [probably] don't have an agricultural background," he said. "We have a general population that is so far removed from agriculture, their knowledge is a vacuum." The RSPCA's Ben Cave said it was unlikely a farmer humanely euthanasing an injured animal would ever face prosecution. "Although I can't guarantee that because every prosecution is based on fact and context," he said. "Something that is simply not acceptable when a vet clinic might be 500 metres away may be acceptable in a different context where a vet clinic is 500 kilometres away." Professor Collins said producers needed better support and education to meet society's animal welfare expectations. But she said the general public also needed a better understanding and appreciation of food production. "Farmers are asked to be innovative to adopt the changes that science is suggesting, yet they still need to be profitable," she said. "The Australian public is very concerned about the care and treatment of animals and livestock, but there isn't a necessary increased willingness to pay by those same people to have their food produced in that manner. "Society often doesn't see the link between the changes they're asking from our producers and then not wanting to pay more for any changes made."
