Some of the dogs which were kept at the farm in Garnant.
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A CARMARTHENSHIRE farmer has been jailed and banned from keeping animals for five years as a judge accused him of having a "cavalier attitude to the animal welfare".
While appearing at Llanelli Magistrates' Court, Andrew Paul Thomas, of Bryncethin Road, Garnant, Ammanford, pleaded guilty to seven offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 – which took place between October 9 and March 6.
The court heard the RSPCA paid two visits to the 38-year-old's farm.
Inspector Cooper entered various blocks while on the premises – one of which she discovered dogs living in an unsuitable environment surrounded by urine and feces ‑ with no sign of food, water or bedding. Pigs and sheep were witnessed locked inside a block with no lighting or ventilation, while other animals were described as 'lethargic' looking.
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Hazards were also noticed on the grounds themselves, such as broken glass and china, while unburied carcasses were strewn across the land – including that of a Highland Bull, the court heard.
The court heard on February 3, a Carmarthenshire Council animal health officer visited the farm with a view of offering advice regarding licensing conditions for dog breeding.
But after visiting the site, in her opinion, the premises 'was not close' to being a licensed premises.
On March 6, a police constable visited the site, and could see 'to his horror' the condition dogs were being kept in, the court heard.
He noted they were covered in excrement, with no sign of food or water, while he also spotted barns with sheep, calves and pigs with no access to water and food while being 'knee deep in their own excrement'.
The court heard Thomas had previous convictions for similar incidents relating to the care of a dog and horses.
Mitigating, Aled Owen said: "Prior to these incidents, 50 sheep were stolen from a location in Llandeilo, and comments were made on who had stolen these sheep.
"When my client took his sheep to market, some people made an inaccurate allegation that it was him who had stolen the sheep, and he was barred from using his local farmers market on the suspicion that he had stolen the sheep. He was ostracised by the farming community and verbally abused, while auctioneers took a view they did not want his custom or work.
"As a result, he had to sell privately out of market, and the value fell. It's been devastating for him and put him in £40,000 debt, together it had lent to a perfect storm and is how this has happened.
image: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276352/binaries/15569346-large.jpg
"What Mr Thomas wants is a conclusion to this unhappy period of his life and the chance to start again with his young family."
Mr Owen argued there is a 'strong argument' over disqualifying Thomas from keeping dogs, but argued for him to be allowed to keep pigs and sheep in the future.
He added: "My client concedes he will enter custody today, and is traumatised by the whole nature of the case."
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Summing up, Judge David Parsons said: "Your offences, are of course serious. You obviously appreciate that and I understand they have come at a period where you have been suffering from prolonged depression.
"But prior to that, you were committing offences of this type. It appears you have a propensity to have a cavalier attitude to animal welfare.
"The harm to animals I have seen in the photos has, on some occasions, been extreme, and must have been obvious to you.
"Day after day you did nothing to alleviate the suffering of those animals or improve their position. Things are made worse because you are a person in special responsibility, you are a farmer and your livelihood arises from livestock.
image: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276352/binaries/APT%20Ammanford%20case%20Sept%2016%20pic8.jpg
"Your previous convictions make matters worse because you had warnings."
Thomas was given a seven month prison sentence and was disqualified from keeping animals for five years.
He has also been fined £750 and ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge.
Forty eight dogs taken from the farm by the RSPCA will be subject to a deprivation order – meaning they will not return to Thomas.
Arrangements will be made by Thomas for the cattle to go through the 'red line' and to be sent for slaughter, the court heard.
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/farmer-jailed-and-banned-from-keeping-animals-as-judge-brands-attitude-to-keeping-animals-cavalier/story-29738811-detail/story.html#cPHp7iwlwvzgXcTU.99
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