12:13pm Monday 6th September 2010
By James Nadal
A WOMAN who was disqualified from keeping rabbits has been given a suspended six month jail term and banned for life from owning the creatures after 33 were found in her garden.
Many of the animals found in the garden of Jacqueline Miles, 61, of Sunnybank, Marlow, were lacking enough food and clean water, Wycombe Magistrates Court heard.
Miles was sentenced after an investigation by the RSPCA and also faces a bill in excess of £5,000.
She was also threatened with being held in contempt of court for continuously interrupting the Magistrates and legal representatives.
Eight adult rabbits were found with no water at all, the court heard.
A video was played showing the state of the animals when they were found.
An officer narrating the recording said: “They are extremely nervous and just run away at any attempt to move them or handle them.”
Robert Borwick, prosecuting, said the rabbits “weren’t kept in proper condition, certainly the lack of water offered a clear danger and rabbits are particularly vulnerable to dehydration.”
One of the rabbits, shown in the video, drank for 40 seconds when presented with fresh water, he said.
Mr Borwick said she had ‘hoarded’ the creatures and also asked for a ban to extend to the numerous Guinea pigs she owned.
Chirs Prior, defending, said: “What I would highlight to you is that the animals we see by the two vets in their report are in agreement that the animals on a whole were in a reasonable condition, they weren’t overly suffering.
“They had been cared for to a reasonable standard.”
The animals were “very much loved” by Miles, he said, adding that items like wood left in their hutches to chew on to keep their teeth trimmed showed a level of care.
The loss of her elderly parents, particularly her mother most recently, had “had an impact on her”, Mr Prior said.
He added her “failings” were “innocent failings” and in relation to her original disqualification she “didn’t understand the circumstances and how the court process works”.
Magistrate Malcolm Peckham sentenced her to a six month jail term, suspended for 12 months, saying it was a “very serious matter”. She was given a supervision order, meaning she will report to a probation officer for six months.
As sentencing began Miles was told she would be held in contempt of court for speaking out of turn, having already been told to “be quiet” by Mr Peckham.
She was given a lifetime ban from keeping rabbits but this does not apply to her other animals which include a pony, numerous Guinea pigs and bantams.
These creatures had enough food and water, the court heard.
She must pay more than £5,000 in boarding fees incurred by the RSPCA.
It had appealed for costs of close to £10,000 which included investigative and legal costs.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Rob Skinner said Miles was given “every opportunity” to avoid court but the organisation were left without any option.
She will be offered help to meet the needs of her remaining pets, he said.
The seized rabbits were re-homed in March.
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