Cornwall couple banned from keeping animals
Devastating pictures of neglected horses and ponies have been revealed after a Cornwall couple who claimed to be "providing a safe and loving environment" for rescues and their employee are banned from keeping animals in one of the worst cases of animal neglect in the county's history.
Images reveal the frail and emaciated state of some of the animals as Sarah Baker, 33, James Baker, 55, and stable hand Darren Laker, 46, appeared for sentence at Truro Crown Court on Thursday (February 29) having all pleaded guilty.
The court heard how the Bakers had previously been warned to improve the living conditions for animals in their care while running horse therapy charity Family Nest CIC in Holsworthy, Devon, back in 2020 before moving to Cornwall. The charity, which Sarah Baker's Linkedin claims was "providing a safe and loving environment" and rescuing equines in need, was soon relocated to the Par area alongside their dozens of horses, donkeys and other animals.
Francesca Whebell, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court that inspectors visited them again in Par in 2022 and continued to express strong concerns about failings in animal welfare including them having no shade, no shelter, mouldy hay or no food and often little to no access to water.
She said some of the animals had untreated wounds and were lame and had to be taken to a vet for immediate treatment, with many of the horses having to be looked after by a Devon sanctuary and the donkeys having to be rehomed.
One horse was found dead in a field while others were emaciated, thin, and visibly malnourished. Ms Whebell told the court that when RSPCA inspectors turned up the Bakers never took responsibility for the neglect they inflicted on the animals with the RSPCA inspectors even being told by the Bakers that "when you have livestock you sometimes have dead stock".
Ramsay Quaife, defending Laker, said his client apologised for his involvement. Sarah Baker, who was unrepresented, told the court that she welcomed the lifelong ban on keeping animals, as the last three years had been hell, adding that many of the animals had been "dumped on them" and when they had to uproot and move to Par, many of the owners no longer wanted them.
She said: "We tried our hardest to get these animals back to health. But we were not given a chance. It was too much hard work for us. I wish I had contacted the RSPCA much sooner."
Baker and Laker horse charges
The charges in full
SARAH BAKER and JAMES BAKER on and before 28 July 2022 in the vicinity of Snowlands Caravan Site, Par, Cornwall, caused unnecessary suffering to protected animals, namely 9 equines identified as RC/1-3, RC/5-7 and RC/10-12 by failing to investigate and address each animal’s poor condition and to provide them with proper husbandry and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to do so would have that effect or be likely to.
SARAH BAKER on and before 28 July 2022 in the vicinity of Driving Lane, Par, Cornwall, caused unnecessary suffering to protected animals, namely 2 equines identified as RS/1 and RS/2 by failing to investigate and address each animal’s poor condition and obvious lameness in RS/1 and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to do so would have that effect or be likely to.
DARREN LAKER on and before 28 July 2022 in the vicinity of Driving Lane, Par, Cornwall, caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely an equine identified as RS/2 by failing to investigate and address the animal’s poor condition and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to do so would have that effect or be likely to.
SARAH BAKER and JAMES BAKER on and before 28 July 2022 in the vicinity of Snowlands Caravan Site, Par, Cornwall, caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a donkey identified as RC/8 (Molly) by failing to investigate and address the animal’s poor condition and obvious facial injury and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to do so would have that effect or be likely to.
SARAH BAKER and JAMES BAKER on and before 28 July 2022 in the vicinity of Snowlands Caravan Site, Par, Cornwall, caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a goat identified as RC/13 by failing to provide adequate and timely intervention for the animal’s lameness, overgrown hooves and dental problems and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to do so would have that effect or be likely to.
SARAH BAKER and JAMES BAKER on and before 1 September 2022 in the vicinity of Snowlands Caravan Site, Par, Cornwall, caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely an equine identified as ST/1 (Haydon) by failing to investigate and address the poor condition, lower limb infection, and to provide adequate husbandry and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to do so would have that effect or be likely to.
SARAH BAKER and JAMES BAKER on and before 1 September 2022 in the vicinity of Driving Lane, Par, Cornwall, caused unnecessary suffering to protected animals, namely 2 equines identified as ST/2 and ST/3 by failing to investigate and address each animal’s poor condition, wounds and ill health and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to do so would have that effect or be likely to.
During the hearing Judge Simon Carr said the animals "suffered terribly" and "would have been in agony". He told the defendants in his sentencing remarks: "Imagine being tied up able to see water but unable to get to it. There is no excuse for what you did. This is one of the worst cases of animal neglect I have had the misfortune to see."
Judge Carr sentenced the Bakers to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, as well as a life ban on keeping any animals. Laker was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for two years and banned from keeping horses for 10 years.