He should have been jailed for 6 years! Not banned for 6 years! And banned from keeping animals for life! What a joke of a sentence!!!!
Huw Aled Jones, 44, received a suspended sentence after court heard some animals were subjected to prolonged suffering
A “failed” farmer caught with dead and dying animals on his land was today banned from owning any animal for six years.
Huw Aled Jones, 44, received a suspended sentence after Flintshire Magistrates ’ Court heard some animals were subjected to prolonged suffering.
Jones of Ffrainc Farm, Rhydtalog near Mold admitted 12 offences brought by Flintshire County Council’s animal welfare department following a tip-off.
Charges include causing unnecessary suffering, failing to identify animals, failing to tell the Welsh Assembly about the death of an animal, failing to dispose of carcasses and relate to between February and September last year.
Tim Dillon, prosecuting, said during the first inspection an untagged sheep still alive but with its eye pecked out was put down by a vet. Other dead sheep in a similar condition were discovered and their carcases showed they were extremely thin.
Grass was sparse with no additional feed available apart from two large bales which were mouldy and uneatable. Dead sheep were found in a feeder and had been there some time.
During that visit four dead calves and nine dead sheep were found and two sheep had to be put down.
He was advised to seek veterinary attention for his animals but failed to do so.
On another visit it was found there was no adequate water supply for the sheep – only a trickle of water in a rusty, leaking bowl.
Sheep had no additional feed and one lamb was very thin and had difficulty walking or standing. He was advised about the need to properly feed his animals and a number of other visits were made.
A further four sheep carcasses and one calf were found and he admitted he had not contacted a vet. It emerged he later contacted his vet but then cancelled the visit.
More visits by council officers found sheep still without adequate food and water with four more carcasses in a shed and one lamb under a trailer.
During one visit in May ten calves were seen in a shed and one was extremely thin and unable to stand. Jones said he had checked his animals that day and everything was okay.
But a postmortem examination of a dead calf showed it was emaciated, had chronic pneumonia and it was clear there had been long-term husbandry issues.
In a later visit officers provided feed and water - one calf was so hungry it was eating its soiled bedding.
The next day one calf was so weak it could not stand and other calves were treading on it. It had to be put down and it was found to be emaciated. Jones said it was okay when he checked that morning.
In a later visit a ram was infected with fly and had open wounds containing maggots - it had to be put down.
A number of sheep were untagged but Jones said he would do so before taking them to market. Nothing had been sold since December 2014.
The court heard Jones was unable to cope with the unsustainable farm and he become embroiled in a messy family dispute after his father died.
Following drawn-out probate proceedings he was left with a rundown farm and 20 acres with the remaining 50 acres going to his sister.
Failed Farmer
He worked 12 hour days at a dairy in Ellesmere, Shropshire, and failed to care for sheep and cows on his own holding.
Victoria Evans, defending, said Jones’ wife left with their two children and he appeared to have had some sort of breakdown.
District Judge Gwyn Jones gave him a 16-week prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to pay £5,000 prosecution costs.
He said the ban from owning animals would allow him to work with other people’s animals under supervision.
“It is quite clear you failed in your duty as a farmer to have regard for the welfare of your animals. This is not a matter that would be forgotten.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/failed-mold-farmer-banned-six-12669170
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