A live horse was discovered near where rotting carcasses of around 17 animals were found at the base of cliffs in what has been described as a “planned and sinister” act.

A man who gave a “torturous beating” to a horse that had to be put down was yesterday jailed for six months.

The terrible plight of animals, especially horses, whose owners can no longer afford to, or care to, look after them has been well documented and provoked calls for intervention to end what is sometimes neglect bordering on cruelty.