A 60-year-old woman appeared in court last week charged with causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

Wendy Elizabeth Megson said that her name was a ’legal fiction’ and asked the court to address her as ’Wendy’.

She said that she had been unable to find an advocate to represent her, despite travelling to the UK to try to find one.

Ms Megson said: ’I am trying to follow the rules that are set. I am here with honour and to ensure I get access to equal arms.’

She then claimed that an advocate had ’acted unfaithfully’ and ’conspired to commit fraud’.

It is alleged that Ms Megson caused unnecessary suffering to horses and ponies on May 15.

When asked to enter a plea to the charge by High Bailiff Jayne Hughes, Ms Megson said: ’I have no comment unless I can have legal advice.’

Mrs Hughes told her that she had been given since August 5 to get legal advice and entered a not guilty plea on her behalf.

Ms Megson then asked if the case could be moved to another jurisdiction if she could not get legal advice but was told by Mrs Hughes that it could not.

She also handed the High Bailiff documents containing a £30,000 fee schedule and said: ’If I have to attend court against my will I think it only fair there will be recompense.’

Mrs Hughes pointed out that Ms Megson had signed the document ’W E Megson’ despite earlier claiming her name was a legal fiction.

She then told the High Bailiff it was ’part of the contract’ but was told by Mrs Hughes ’there is no contract’.

A pre-trial review will be held in summary court on November 30.