Man Banned from Keeping Animals for Five Years After Horrific Neglect of Horses
Shocking Case of Starved Cobs in Erith Field
A man has been slapped with a five-year ban on keeping animals after leaving two underweight cobs to suffer in a field in Erith. One horse developed a severe eye infection so bad it required surgical removal of the eye.
Court Hands Down Tough Sentence
Alfie Doyle, from Hampstead Lane, Nettlestead near Maidstone, pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The RSPCA prosecuted the case.
At Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on February 17, Doyle was sentenced to:
- A five-year ban on owning animals
- A 12-week prison term suspended for 12 months
- 200 hours of unpaid community work
- 10 rehabilitation activity days
- £400 court costs plus a £154 victim surcharge
Disturbing Discovery Sparks Investigation
The case erupted after a piebald foal’s body was found in March last year, malnourished and in terrible condition. Eleven days later, RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday, alerted by World Horse Welfare (WHW), found a piebald mare in the same field with a severe eye infection.
Police, a vet, and a WHW officer confiscated two cobs from the site:
- A three-year-old cob with a severe eye infection and painful rain scald
- A seven-year-old piebald mare, dangerously underweight
Neither horse was microchipped, and the field contained several horses owned by different people.
Veterinary Report Reveals Terrible Neglect
- The younger cob was emaciated, scoring just 0.5 on a body condition scale
- The older mare scored 1.5, well below a healthy weight
- Both suffered parasitic infections and heavy lice infestations
The younger cob’s infected eye had to be removed, and both horses received urgent deworming treatment.
RSPCA: Animal Neglect Will Not Be Tolerated
After their rescue, both horses were nursed back to health at World Horse Welfare, regaining weight and strength. One has already been rehomed.
“Both these cobs suffered terribly left in this field without care and attention,” said RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday. “Owning an animal is a privilege, and ensuring appropriate veterinary care when they need it is a key part of the responsibility we have towards them.”
The court heard Doyle had taken the horses from a friend but admitted failing to provide proper care. This case stands as a stark warning: neglect won’t be swept under the carpet. Authorities remain committed to cracking down on animal cruelty and mistreatment.
