A 51-year-old woman who kept emaciated horses in a Shropshire field has been fined £4,000 and banned from looking after the animals for six years.

Julie Wilkinson, of Heath Gap Road, Cannock, admitted five charges relating to the causing of unnecessary suffering to a protected animal when she appeared at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday.

The charges related to four horses kept in Soudley, near Market Drayton between December 28, 2009 to January 25 last year.

Wilkinson was also given a four month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and told to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work.

The court heard that following an inspection of the field by an RSPCA inspector in January last year, one horse was found dead while another horse was euthanised at the scene on veterinary advice.

Two other horses were removed into RSPCA care and one of them was later euthanised.

Mr Roger Price, prosecuting, said Wilkinson kept about 30 horses in a field 23 miles away from her home.

He told the court that following inspections where several horses had been found to be in a poor condition, Wilkinson was given an official animal warning notice. He also said the field was in a mess containing old machinery with rubbish “strewn” across it.

Mr Timothy Gascoyne, for Wilkinson, said his client kept the horses as a “hobby”.

He also told the court that Wilkinson thought the horses had become thin because of the cold winters and had expected them to look healthier in the spring and warmer weather.

District judge Bruce Morgan, said: “This is a serious case relating to causing unnecessary suffering to not one, but four animals.

“There were numerous aggravating features in this case. I do not accept the horses weren’t part of your livelihood or for commercial gain. I do not believe RSPCA held a grudge against you. They behaved impeccably. You ignored their advice.”

Wilkinson’s remaining horses have been confiscated by the court with the ownership passed to the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Nayman Dunderdale said: “I am very pleased with the sentence imposed but disappointed that it ever got to this stage as prosecution is always the last resort.

“We were left with no other option when Ms Wilkinson stopped co-operating with us.

“Previous to that we have been working with her and her vet offering advice in order to improve conditions.”

By James Pugh