Anger as neglect man is handed his animals back

Julian Morrison owned Shetland stallion Starri, who had to be put to sleep

Julian Morrison, 68, who owns a steading at Dalhousie Mains, in Gorebridge, had four Shetland ponies and a donkey removed from his stables in August 2009 after they were found living in poor conditions, including a dirty shed without lighting or heating.

He also failed to provide proper vet and farrier care. Two of the ponies had to be put to sleep.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, Mr Morrison was told the remaining animals could be returned to him after a medical report said he was fit to care for them, but he was convicted of neglect and banned from acquiring any more ponies or donkeys.

Animal rights charity OneKind said it was worried about the decision to return the animals to Morrison, a former employee of Romano Circus.

Libby Anderson, policy director for OneKind, said: "We are concerned that, after two years of being cared for by the Scottish SPCA, these animals are to be returned to an owner who has been convicted under animal welfare legislation.

"We are not interested in punitive measures but we believe that, in all such cases, a ban on keeping animals should be the automatic penalty."

Senior inspector with the Scottish SPCA, Jennifer Scott, 33, said the conditions at the stables had been very dirty.

One Shetland stallion, Starri, had to be put down the day after the inspection. Another, called Goldie, was put down a few days later.

Morrison, of Lorne Street, had denied causing the animals unnecessary suffering between March 31 and August 21, 2009, but he was found guilty at trial.

Ms Scott said: "We are pleased that the court found Mr Morrison guilty on all charges.

"After receiving a report from a member of the public, we attended Mr Morrison's property where we found four ponies and a donkey all being kept in awful conditions.

"We were therefore justified in taking action.

"As a result of their poor health, two ponies sadly had to be put to sleep. The remaining two ponies and the donkey have since made a full recovery.

"We respect the sheriff's decision to return Mr Morrison's ponies to him."

A OneKind officer who visited the farm in 2009 reported seeing a llama lying dead outside on a trolley, apparently waiting to be buried.

She said: "My meeting with Julian (Morrison] was very civil and he was very pleasant. Towards the end of our conversation he admitted to me that none of the animals he owns ever go out."

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