A WINTERBOURNE man has been given a suspended prison sentence after he allowed horses to stray onto a highway and breached the terms of his Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).

Edward Mullane, of Northwood Park, appeared at Bristol Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, June 15, where he was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

The Winterbourne resident pleaded guilty to four ASBO breaches for allowing horses to stray on to the highway, and for abandoning horses on land without permission in the Severnside area of South Gloucestershire and in Avonmouth, Bristol.

In addition to the suspended prison sentence, he was also ordered to pay court costs and a victim surcharge which together amounted to fines of £365.

Mullane was given a five-year ASBO in October 2013 in relation to illegally fly grazing horses, following a successful prosecution led by South Gloucestershire Council’s anti-social behaviour team.

In March 2015, he was found to have breached the ASBO after a horse was discovered grazing on council-owned land.

His ASBO remains in place until October 2018 and any further breaches will now result in a jail term.

Cllr Heather Goddard, Cabinet Member for Communities and Tourism, said: “We are very grateful to the people who came forward to give evidence in support of the breaches.

"The judgement against Edward Mullane proves that not only do we fully investigate alleged breaches when they happen, but that we will have no hesitation in taking action against the perpetrators.”

Fly grazing horses is an offence and you can report it to South Gloucestershire Council by calling 01454 868582 or emailing asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk