£2,000 reward to catch horse killer

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 14th Oct 2004.

A devastated horse owner who lost her two show animals in a suspected arson attack has pledged a reward of £2,000 for information leading to the culprit's capture.

Jill Crowther has distributed 70 posters around Cottingley calling for people who know who set fire to the Beckside Riding School in the village to come forward.

Three horses were killed in the blaze, and another was left with burns, as it ripped through one of four blocks at the stables in Lee Lane on Sunday, October 3, at around 10pm.

Despite pleas in the Telegraph & Argus, witnesses and people with information about the incident have failed to come forward, and heartbroken Mrs Crowther is now hoping a cash incentive will help.

The 32-year-old, of Greenhill Lane, Micklethwaite, Bingley, had kept her horses Ellie Moss, aged three, and Toby, aged 15, at the stables for two-and-a-half years.

Mrs Crowther said: "We are putting a £2,000 reward up for any more evidence leading to the conviction of whoever has done this.

"We are appealing for anyone with any information to ring the police on the number at the bottom of the posters.

"We want this person caught because next time it could be a school or anything set alight."

Mrs Crowther said the attack had "shocked" the equine community in the district and some horse owners at the stables were now keeping their animals out in fields at night to protect them from further attacks.

And she claimed one owner was even sleeping next to her horse in the stables so she could listen out for any intruders.

"Everywhere we have put the posters up everybody has been devastated and the local people are outraged about it because these were defenceless animals," Mrs Crowther said.

"I'm still coming to terms with the effect it has had on me. It really has ruined my life. When I went to the stables the last time I put a dozen red roses down for Toby and a dozen pink roses for Ellie Moss and that was the hardest thing I have had to do."

Mrs Crowther said she and her husband Ian, 40, had spoken to a number of people who they believed held vital information about the attack but were scared of coming forward.

She hoped the reward would persuade people with information to speak out.

A 16-year-old male from Cottingley was arrested in connection with the incident and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

l Anyone with information about the incident should contact Detective Constable Nigel Spencer, at Keighley CID, on (01535) 617085.

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