A MAN who broke a court order banning him from keeping horses after he starved one so badly it had to be put down has escaped being sent to jail.

Allan Clynch, 56, formerly of Barnmeadow Lane, Great Harwood, left Hyndburn Magistrates with a 12 month probation order that will extend an order given for the previous ban by six months.

Clynch also walked away with having to pay £10 a fortnight towards costs, totalling £3,365 for all legal proceedings, because of his financial situation. He is in receipt of Income Support.

RSPCA Inspector Sarah Hill said: :We feel that he has been treated very leniently."

The court was told how Clynch was found looking after a pony called Frankie in March following a three-year ban in May last year. He claimed the pony, which he kept in his garage before abandoning, was not his and when questioned he said ponies were not included in the ban.

Clynch, now of Portland Street, Blackburn, was told that the ban included all equines and not only covered ownership but the caring of horses as well.

RSPCA Inspector Sarah Hill said: "We are very disappointed that the costs have not been awarded to the RSPCA to cover the amount of time their inspectors have put into this case. We feel that he has been treated very leniently."

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "The initial ban was for keeping a horse on an allotment. It was so emaciated that it had to be put down. The vet also found severe liver and kidney damage although he could not say whether it was related."