Leicestershire: Pony-kick woman cleared of animal cruelty

A pistillate filmed kicking and striking a pony has been cleared of carnal cruelty charges.

The RSPCA brought a backstage prosecution aft Sarah Moulds disciplined the carnal successful Lincolnshire successful 2021.

Lincoln Crown Court heard differing veterinary opinions astir however overmuch symptom and fearfulness the pony mightiness person suffered.

The 39-year-old said she intended to "briefly shock" the carnal but denied losing her temper and insisted the unit utilized was appropriate.

Ms Moulds, from Somerby, adjacent Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, faced 2 offences nether the Animal Welfare Act 2006, namely causing unnecessary suffering to the pony and not taking tenable steps to support the carnal from pain, suffering, wounded oregon disease.

She told the proceedings her beingness had been "torn to pieces" by the case, having mislaid her occupation arsenic a teacher and that she had received decease threats.

After a three-day trial, the assemblage of 11 men and 1 pistillate cleared Ms Moulds aft conscionable implicit 5 hours of deliberation.

Ms Moulds wept arsenic the verdict was delivered.

The tribunal had heard she had made "minimal contact" with the pony, which she inactive owned, and that determination were nary signs of outer oregon interior wounded pursuing the incident, which took spot successful The Drift, Gunby.