POLICE arrested a horse owner after helping him to catch a runaway stallion.

Blackburn magistrates heard that scrap merchant and horse dealer Thomas Smith was on bail on charges of theft and handling and was subject to a curfew.

But after the £20,000 stallion escaped and was running loose on the streets of Great Harwood he felt he had to break his curfew to recapture the stud.

Smith, 34, of Meadow Street, Great Harwood, admitted breach of curfew. He was re-bailed without punishment.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said Smith owns over 300 cob horses, the type favoured by the travelling community from which he came. The stallions and some of the mares are housed in stables at his home which is adjacent to his scrap yard.

“The area is patrolled by a night watchman and when some of the horses escaped he raised the alarm and actually phoned the police,” said Mr Farnsworth.

“My client’s wife and the night watchman managed to capture the mares but the stallion was more troublesome. My client was concerned for the stallion and for the safety of road users.”

He said the horse was eventually captured on the Tesco car park.

“With the help of the police he got it tethered and then they arrested him,” said Mr Farnsworth.