Man sentenced for horse death hit-and-run

Patch died as a result of the crash in Earl Soham on 22 October

A man has been disqualified from driving after a hit-and-run collision led to the death of a horse.

Suffolk Police said one woman was thrown from her horse as two animals were hit by a car on Church Lane, Earl Soham, in October.

Edgaras Tilmantas, 34, of Bracken Avenue, Kesgrave, previously admitted careless driving and failing to stop at an accident when he appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court.

The same court banned him from driving for nine months and he was fined £854.

Speaking after the hearing, Karen Harvey, who was riding the horse that died and managed to stay in the saddle, welcome Tilmantas' sentence.

Ms Harvey, who was with her son's girlfriend Charlotte Speer at the time, said the incident was "terrifying, absolutely terrifying".

"I have never in my whole life had any vehicle come at such speed, it was so scary," she said.

She said she would "never ever" ride up Church Lane again and that it had made her feel more anxious.

Ms Speer, 28, said she was no longer able to work since the crash and that the horse she was thrown from, Alfie, had become more anxious.

Karen Harvey, left, and Charlotte Speer were riding their horses along Church Lane at the time of the incident

Ms Harvey said her horse saved her life in the crash, which happened at about 11:15 BST on 22 October.

"The one thing you could rely on with Patch is he’d stay on his feet. Whatever happened, he'd look after you," she said.

"The force the car propelled him forward and he just managed to stay on his feet, which was amazing.

"Otherwise I certainly wouldn't be here, so I'll be forever grateful, but he certainly didn't deserve to die in the middle of the road," she said.

The incident happened on Church Lane, Earl Soham, on 22 October

Tilmantas was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work as part of a community order and told to pay £105 in costs plus a victim surcharge of £114.