Dealer inquiry after horse sale

Mr Bonner told Jon Hunt that he was "the best there is"

A Kent horse dealer who calls himself "the Robin Hood of the horse game" is being investigated by trading standards after an undercover report by the BBC.

BBC South East bought a horse from Tom Bonner's yard in Darenth Hill, Darenth, after a tip-off from a viewer.

Horses kept in unhygienic conditions were being sold without passports and passed off as younger than they were.

A significant age difference would be a Trade Descriptions offence, Kent trading standards officers said.

Spokesman Richard Strawson said: "The Act makes it an offence for a false trade description to be applied to goods, and the goods in this case would be the horse."

Between them, the RSPCA and the International League for the Protection of Horses told the BBC they had received more than 100 complaints about Mr Bonner.

OSCAR'S POST-SALE VET REPORT Around 20 years old - 10 years older than claimed Hind quarter muscles poorly developed, consistent with age 1.5cm mouth wound that had to heal before he could be ridden A stiff hind limb gait, dragging toes, consistent with age Big and strong, bad-mannered, unsuitable for novice rider Normal lab results for haematology and biochemistry Normal lab results for parasitic intestinal worms An analysis for painkillers and sedatives was negative

The investigation began after a tip-off from a viewer, who had visited the yard and been horrified by the state of the horses.

The woman, who cannot be named, rescued one horse, Baby, but the grey mare had a painful muscle disease and she felt the kindest thing was to put her down.

Another Kent customer, Trish Rosser, bought a horse which turned out to have been stolen, although there is nothing to suggest Mr Bonner knew the horse had been stolen when he sold it.

One customer said it was "one step away from the knacker's yard", another said conditions were "wretched", and one visitor said conditions were "worse than death".

Journalists from BBC South East Today posed as a couple wanting to buy a horse aged between seven and 10 which could be ridden.

They chose a horse which they named Oscar, and were told by Mr Bonner he was aged nine or 10 and in good condition.

But vets who examined Oscar after the purchase said he was nearer 21 years old and not fit to ride.

Oscar cost £1,095 - about a quarter of what he would have been worth if he had been in the condition Mr Bonner claimed.

The BBC challenged Mr Bonner at Southall market, in London, after he declined to be interviewed.

Customers said the horses were in "wretched" conditions

He said he was "the Robin Hood of the horse game" and added: "I am the best there is, there is no better".

He claimed a passport was not supplied with Oscar because undercover reporter Jon Hunt had not asked for one, although secret footage shows that he did.

Mr Hunt said: "Oscar is a lovely horse, but he is not what Mr Bonner claimed he was.

"His cheap horses come at a price, with customers and animal welfare losing out."

Oscar has been given to the International League for the Protection of Horses at an undisclosed location, where his condition is improving.

Jon Hunt's full report can be seen on BBC South East Today at 1830 GMT on Monday on BBC1.