AN investigation into a charity’s conduct has been called for after a Ribble Valley woman’s animal-neglect conviction was overturned.

Rachelle Peel had her animals confiscated by the RSPCA in September after they allegedly suffered neglect, with 12 healthy horses being put down.

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The 57-year-old, who lived in Slaidburn at the time, was found guilty of charges relating to four dogs and 12 horses kept in an unsuitable environment, a horse with rain scald and mud fever and two horses with overgrown hooves.

The former Brookhouse Green Farm resident, who moved out to live in a caravan in Tosside, pleaded not guilty to all charges but was convicted of four. She was fined a total of £2,200 and ordered to pay £8,000 costs and £80 victim surcharge.

Now her convictions for animal neglect have been overturned after the RSPCA refused to offer any evidence to contest her appeal.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans is now calling for the police to investigate whether any fraud was committed by the charity.

He said: “The only issue is not to do with the horses it is up to the RSPCA to make a decision on the horses. The police need to ensure they are satisfied that there was no attempt of fraud when the maintenance bills were issued for horses that had already been shot had not been made."

“I have spoken with the RSPCA and they have reassured me that in the future there will be different processes in place to ensure that horses would only be shot on health grounds.

“These were healthy horses and they should not have been killed.”