Laughing pony and trap riders left animal for dead

Two drunk businessmen raced away from police in a pony and trap before leaving the exhausted horse tied to a lamppost, a court heard.

Roper Chatfield, 55, and Albert Coates, 37, allegedly clattered past shocked bystanders at dangerous speeds in Greek Street, Soho, central London.

Off-duty policewoman Joanne Ferguson called for help when the men rode past her hen do at a packed bar on 2 May 2015.

PC Clare Rees came to the scene on horseback, but claims she was thrown from the saddle as Chatfield and Coates sped towards her ‘aggressively’.

Their ‘malnourished’ horse was later found tied to a lamppost and had to be put down, the court heard.

Ann Abel prosecuting, said: ‘Multiple calls were made by concerned by the public about a horse and cart racing around Soho.

‘It is alleged that the defendants were driving a pony and trap that they raced towards other roads.

‘We say the speed endangered members of the public. The men were intoxicated.

‘They then got off and disappeared into a building. The pony was found abandoned afterwards tied to a lamppost.

‘It was sweating, exhausted, and underweight. It was put down the next day.’

Coates and Chatfield are now standing trial at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court.

PC Ferguson told the court that the condition of the animal as it rode past her party was ‘disgraceful’.

She said: ‘It was foaming at the mouth. It had lost its back legs and fell.

‘It was extremely shocking, it’s dreadful. There was no concern for the public’s safety, or the animal’s welfare.’

PC Rees told the court: ‘It was being driven very aggressively.

‘It trotted furiously towards my direction, the pony appeared terrified and was out of control.

‘They were swerving left and right, and as it got closer I could see there were two white males driving.

‘I shouted for the driver to stop. They didn’t, and my horse jumped to the right, unseating me.

‘The younger man took the reins, they laughed, and carried on.’

PC Rees pursued the cart, only to find the pony abandoned and tied to a lamppost.

She added: ‘Its skin was showing where there was no fur, its rib was visible, its hipbone was stuck out and it was sweating.’

The officer told the court the two men came to collect the pony after a crowd had gathered.

She said: ‘I told them to leave the pony, they didn’t seem to understand.

‘They appeared drunk, their eyes were bloodshot, and they were both unsteady on their feet.’

The pony was treated the next day but struggled to eat while being treated.

PC Rees said: ‘An officer offered her water, and it drank two bottles of water it was so thirsty.

‘I fed her some hay, she was very hungry, but what became apparent was that the wound on the hither area, was so red and sore when I applied water to the area she stopped eating.

‘This meant she was distressed.’

Coates, of Norman Road, Belvedere, Kent, denies driving a horse furiously in the street and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Chatfield, of Oliver Whitby Road, Chichester, denies causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and assaulting a police officer. The charge of driving a horse furiously in the street was dropped by the prosecution.

The trial continues

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The pony and trap riders were fined a total of £600 after being convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Coates was also convicted of driving a horse furiously and Chatfield was convicted of assaulting a police officer. Chatfield had previously been cleared of driving a horse furiously after the prosecution dropped the charge.

Bench chair Carol McIntosh told Coates: ‘PC Rees said she saw you at the reins.’

She added: ‘We found the police officers evidence credible. The animal was caused suffering and had visible injuries.

‘With regards to assault on an officer, the cart was coming down a one-way road towards the officer.

‘We accept the officers account.’

Coates was fined £320 and ordered to pay £300 costs with a victim surcharge of £20.

Chatfield was fined £280 with costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £20.

Vet Sarah Wood had earlier told the court that the horse was put down the day after the incident.

She said: ‘I received a call saying the horse had become non weight bearing, and had an infection.

‘It was consequently put to sleep.

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