In a shocking case of animal cruelty, a 68-year-old former nurse has admitted to trying to poison a fellow equestrian’s horse with rat poison.
Christine Campey, a retired cardiology ward manager, was caught on CCTV slipping bright pink rat poison into the food of a nine-year-old horse named Elle. The incident happened at a shared livery yard in Warrington, Cheshire, on May 16, 2023.
Elle’s owner, Gill Poole, 48, said she was heartbroken when she found out. “There was no argument, no falling out — it was totally out of the blue,” she said. “It makes you wonder why someone would do something so random and cruel.”
The court heard that Campey, who kept her own horse named Buzz at the same yard, had agreed to share feeding duties with Poole.
But one morning, the yard owner noticed rat poison scattered on the stable floor and checked the CCTV footage — which clearly showed Campey pouring poison into Elle’s feed.
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Video evidence revealed that Campey first spilled the poison across the yard floor, then took it into the feed room. She pretended to feed her own horse but instead swapped the poisoned meal into Elle’s bucket.
Later that day, more poison was discovered hidden under feed chaff, likely meant for Elle’s afternoon meal.
Thankfully, Elle was not harmed. The feed was checked before she could eat the second portion.
Campey told police she had no memory of the incident and blamed her behavior on being in “a lot of pain” and under the influence of strong medication.
Despite initially denying the charge, she eventually pleaded guilty to attempting to poison a protected animal.
At Chester Crown Court, Judge Simon Berkson handed Campey a 12-month conditional discharge. She must also pay £500 in court costs, a £430 compensation fee, and a victim surcharge.
Poole has since moved Elle to a nearby field, where she can keep a closer eye on her.
