A WOMAN was given a two-year conditional discharge and banned from keeping animals for three years for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Jayne Evans, of Bailey Avenue, Ellesmere Port, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the chestnut thoroughbred gelding at Chester Magistrates Court.

RSPCA inspector Naomi Norris said: “This horse was being fed inappropriate food which led to teeth problems and extreme difficulties eating. He desperately needed to be seen by an equine dentist but Mrs Evans failed in providing this.

“He was losing weight as a result of not being able to eat, all causing him to suffer.

“The RSPCA always hopes for a ban on keeping animals in situations like this as we believe this is the best way of preventing any other animals from suffering.

“I only hope that the sentence passed on Mrs Evans will be sufficient to ensure this is the case.”

The court heard how Evans realised that she didn’t have the means to look after animals and owed money for veterinary treatment, but decided to buy a new Rottweiler dog instead of paying for much-needed equine dentistry or reducing the number of animals she owned.

She will also have to pay costs of £1,958 to the RSPCA and she is unable to apply to have the ban removed for at least 12 months.