Kidderminster man jailed after donkeys come close to death scraps appeal (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Kidderminster man jailed after donkeys come close to death scraps appeal

8:27am Monday 14th December 2009

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A MAN jailed after his two donkeys came close to dying has abandoned an appeal against his sentence to a judge.

Michael Kelly, 47, of The Lea, off Sutton Park Road, Kidderminster, was given 20 weeks custody by the town's magistrates after he admitted four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

He was also banned from keeping any kind of animal for five years.

Kelly was due to appeal at Worcester Crown Court but his defence lawyer, Gary Harper, said the RSPCA could increase the length of the ban - and Kelly was due for early release on December 18.

Gaynor Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the donkeys, which had been nursed back to health, had been taken to the Bransby House of Rest for Horses in Stoke Prior, near Leominster.

Judge Amjad Nawaz ordered Kelly to pay the £400 sanctuary costs.

Kelly had refused to sign over the animals to the charity looking after them.

The RSPCA, which has been given ownership of the donkeys by the magistrates, will find new owners.

Workers for the World Horse Welfare charity became concerned about the donkeys in 2008.

They had inadequate grass and no food supplements during the winter months.

Kelly ignored pleas to take action and the RSPCA was alerted in January.

Vets reported that the donkeys were severely emaciated and near death.

Kelly, an engineer, claimed his sister was looking after them.

Mr Harper told the judge that Kelly was affected by the recession and had debts totalling £52,000.

Mrs Sutton said after the hearing that the RSPCA could have asked for a life ban on keeping animals to be imposed if the appeal had been heard.

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