Pair ordered to pay £11k over animal cruelty

The court heard how the pair failed to provide bedding and fresh water for animals including their pigs

A pair of smallholders who "failed to provide the most basic care" have been banned from keeping farm animals for five years and orderd to pay more than £11,000.

Paul Ford and Rebecca Austin, of Little Chacewood Farm and Farm Shop, Truro, pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates' Court to five charges of animal cruelty involving poultry and pigs.

The court heard how Cornwall Council's animal health and environmental health teams had previously visited the smallholding and provided advice and guidance, which was ignored.

Ford and Austin, both aged 35, were ordered to pay a total of £11,423 in fines and court costs.

'Ignored advice'

Stephanie Martin, senior Trading Standards officer at Cornwall Council, said: "Mr Ford and Miss Austin had been offered considerable advice over a number of years.

"They completely ignored this advice and failed to provide the most basic care to their animals."

The court was told at the hearing last Thursday how the pair failed to provide bedding and fresh water and kept the animals in hazardous conditions where there was scrap metal, old machinery and live electrical wires.

It also heard how Ford and Austin failed to correctly store and dispose poultry slaughter waste and failed to control a rat infestation.

'Distressing example'

Kevin Brader, head of Public Protection at Cornwall Council, said: "This case is a distressing example of smallholders attempting to farm without the appropriate knowledge.

"Where individuals do not provide adequate care for their animals, we will take enforcement action to safeguard industry standards."

Ford was ordered to pay a fine of £778, a surcharge of £311, and to contribute £8,000 towards the council's costs.

Austin was ordered to pay a fine of £180, a surcharge of £65 and was also ordered to contribute £2,089 towards costs.