Skip to content

Following a hearing of the Disciplinary Committee (DC) held on 17 November 2022, Mr Robert Graham Harland DipWCF submitted an appeal to the High Court in respect of the sanction awarded by the DC. Mr Harland was convicted at the Leeds Magistrates Court on 14 November 2021 of the following offence:  

  • On 14 December 2020 at Carr gate, Wakefield you caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely Police Horse George, by attacking Police Horse George with a hammer and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that the act would have that effect or be likely to do so contrary to sections 4(1) and 32(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;
  •  And that in relation to the above, you were fined £3,000 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £190 to fund victim services and costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Services.

The DC found the facts proved and decided that the offence amounted to serious misconduct in a professional respect; the DC awarded a sanction of suspension from the register for 6 months. Mr Harland’s grounds for appeal were that the sanction was excessive and that his 36-year record had been disregarded. Mr Harland also stated that he had been fined £3000 by the Court and that reporting of the case had impacted his business. Mr Harland asked that the sanction be reduced in length or substituted for a lesser sanction. 

On 3 October 2023 Mr Harland withdrew his appeal and agreed to meet the Council’s costs with respect to the appeal to that date. On 4 October 2023 the High Court issued an order dismissing the appeal and awarding costs to the Council of £6495.08p. Mr Harland’s suspension from the register took effect from 5 October 2023 and shall remain in force until 4 April 2024.

Cookie Extension Logo