THE owner of horses which were found running loose near Selby has been fined and banned from owning equines.

North Yorkshire Police were called to Carlton High Street, around the playing field at Carlton High School, on December 10, 2013.

There, a large number of horses were running wild.

They were rounded up, seized by the RSPCA and police, and taken into care.

Robert Hunter, 29, of Leeds, originally admitted owning five of the animals.

But later he said they were all his.

He was charged with offences under the Animal Welfare Act, as the horses’ needs were not being met.

On Monday, August 18, he pleaded not guilty to the offences.

But he was found guilty by magistrates who fined him £75 for each offence. He was also ordered to pay £250 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Hunter was also disqualified, for five years, from keeping, owning and controlling all equines.