Sheep Neglect

AN Amman Valley farmer has been given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay more than £12,000 costs for neglecting her sheep and causing them suffering.

Carmarthen Magistrates Court was told that a Carmarthenshire County Council animal welfare officer first visited Valerie Bowen’s property, Blaengrenig Farm in Grenig Road, Glanamman, back in November 2010.

Some welfare issues were found and advice and guidance was provided. Mrs Bowen complied with the advice so the matter was dealt with in that way.

During the same period in 2011, after responding to a complaint, some of the sheep were found to be infected with sheep scab. Notices under the sheep scab order were served and again the notices and advice was acted upon.

Then in early 2012 further complaint were received and the conditions were found to be totally unacceptable and enforcement action was undertaken from that point after Mrs Bowen failed to act upon comprehensive advice given. Sheep carcasses were found in fields, rivers and feeding areas, along with lamb carcasses.

The offences range from failing to care for the sheep under Section 9 of The Animal Welfare Act 2006 to actually causing animal suffering under Section 4 of the same Act.

There were also offences of failing to dispose of animal carcasses under various sections of the Animal By-Products Wales Regulations.

The court heard that Mrs Bowen’s husband had died several years ago and she had spent a lot of time visiting her son who had spent many months in hospital at the time of the offences. She had failed to carry out regular routine checks which would have revealed the problems.

Mrs Bowen was sentenced to four months imprisonment suspended for 18 months for the animal welfare offences and two months imprisonment suspended for 18 month for by-product offences.

She was also ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work, banned from keeping sheep for 10 years, and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £12,382.89.

Executive board member for environmental and public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “This prosecution followed an extensive investigation and came after Mrs Bowen had been given the opportunity to put things right. If you feel you are overburdened with stock come to us for advice. We want to ensure animal welfare by encouraging people to seek guidance before it comes to this.

“We are aware of how seriously the court has taken this case. We are pleased that the court has made a large award for costs as the department invested substantial resources in this investigation.”