A MAN who left two horses to suffer without food for at least 10 days has been banned from keeping horses for 18 months. Adrian Beecham was also ordered to pay �100 costs and given a 120-hour community work order, when he appeared at Fenland Magistrates

A MAN who left two horses to suffer without food for at least 10 days has been banned from keeping horses for 18 months.

Adrian Beecham was also ordered to pay �100 costs and given a 120-hour community work order, when he appeared at Fenland Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Beecham, 35, of Blatts Drove, Walpole Highway, had previously admitted to causing the two horses to suffer.

The horses, a piebald mare and a dark bay mare, were found in a field in Station Road, Emneth, in February this year by a field officer from World Horse Welfare, who contacted the RSPCA.

They were then seen being moved to farmland in Pott Row, near King's Lynn, from where they were removed by police on behalf of the RSPCA.

Magistrates were told the piebald mare was extremely thin and in very poor condition. Her hip bones and spine were visible and her hooves were overgrown. The other horse's bones were also clearly visible.

An examining vet said the horses had suffered for at least 10 days due to a lack of adequate nutrition.

Beecham claimed that he did not have transport to be able to check on the horses and was selling them back to the previous owner.

RSPCA inspector Jon Knight said: "Clearly theses horses were suffering just because they had not been provided with enough food. I find it quite hard to understand why people sometimes take on the care of animals, knowing they may not be able to look after them.

"I would like to thank World Horse Welfare for their help in identifying the problem and bringing this case to a successful conclusion."

The horses were confiscated into the care of the RSPCA and will be made ready for rehoming by World Horse Welfare.