The woman charged with neglecting Charlotte Dujardin’s rescue foal has been jailed.
Lisa Fletcher, 47, of Winchcombe, Glos, appeared for sentencing at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Monday 9 June).
She was given a 16-week custodial sentence, ordered to pay £2,000 costs and disqualified from keeping equines for life.
Ms Fletcher, who had already been banned from keeping horses for 5 years from last October after she pleaded guilty to three offences of neglecting a grey Arab stallion, admitted 2 counts of causing suffering to 2 horses and 1 count of breaching a disqualification order.
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Suzi Smith said: “I am pleased that the sentence in this case reflects the severity of the offences.
“Without veterinary treatment the outcome for these 2 horses could have been tragic.”
Inspector Smith was called to a DIY livery yard in December last year where she found 2 very thin colts. One was later adopted by the Olympic Champion, who named him Santa.
“He was so thin and scrawny when I first met him, and he was wearing a dog rug,” recalled Charlotte.
The second colt, a yearling called Frank, is recovering well and is due to be re-homed soon.
