A BARTON Stacey man has been fined more than £300 and ordered to carry out community work after being found guilty of animal cruelty against a horse who was left with an eye injury and her tongue split open.

Jonathan Hurst was found guilty of two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a pony called Tanzin previously and was sentenced when he appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court.

The 26-year-old, of King's Elm, Barton Stacey, was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and fined a total of £360 including a £300 fine and a £60 victim surcharge.

Hurst had offered his services to Tanzin’s owner after painting himself as a horse guru with experience training ponies.

Tanzin was taken to a yard in Wherwell in March last year but after just a few days was left with significant injuries which were not treated by a vet.

RSPCA Inspector Jan Edwards, said: “Tanzin had been left to suffer with absolutely shocking injuries.

"I have never seen anything like the state of her tongue.

"It’s callous to leave an animal to suffer in this way without proper veterinary treatment.

"We were made aware of the untreated injuries after Tanzin’s owner paid a visit to the yard for an update on her pony’s progress.

"When she arrived she was surprised to find her pony didn’t react to her as she usually would and screamed when Tanzin turned her head to reveal a greyed out eye as she feared Tanzin had been blinded.

"While she was being examined by a vet she had refused food which led to the checks in her mouth revealing the deep cut to her tongue.”