‘Quite distressing’: man convicted, horses euthanised
Laine Clark |
A horse trader has been convicted after neglecting animals on his property for months, leading to more than 20 being euthanised.
Samuel James Fuller received suspended jail sentences and was banned from having horses and dogs for years after a magistrate read the “quite distressing” details of his many charges.
He pleaded guilty to 35 offences relating to breaches of Queensland’s animal welfare laws, spanning November 2023 until March 2025.
Some offences were committed while he was on bail, Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries said on Friday.
The most serious offence – breach of duty of care causing serious disability – related to a horse with a significant, untreated leg injury that was later humanely euthanised.
“A further 20 horses were also humanely euthanised due to their condition,” the department said in a statement.
Seven horses were seized at a southeast Queensland property and another 11 were the subject of an animal welfare direction.
A small number of offences related to dogs, the department said.
Magistrate Sue Ganasan said it was “quite distressing” to read the charges’ details.
“The photographs are indicative of (significant suffering),” she said at the Ipswich Magistrates Court sentencing.
“I am certain that the defendant would have recognised it in the cold light of day looking at it that it is – that we do not need to be experts to know that an animal is suffering.
“This is why the prosecution pushes so strongly for specific deterrence against you – it is your behaviour and your behaviour alone that needs to change.”
Fuller received a suspended six-month jail term for breach of duty of care causing serious disability.
He also received a three-month suspended sentence for eight counts of breach of duty of care causing prolonged suffering.
For the remaining 26 counts of breach of duty of care, Fuller received two years’ probation with special conditions “aimed at addressing his mental health and behaviour towards animals”.
Convictions were recorded.
Fuller was also ordered to pay $4250 in legal costs and banned from possessing horses for 10 years and dogs for three years.
He was sentenced in Ipswich Magistrates Court in June.
AAP