Perthshire pig neglect farmer given 10-year animal ban

Iain Grindlay was also fined £3,205 at Perth Sheriff Court

A farmer who let pigs roam around his caravan and left their carcasses to rot has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Iain Grindlay let the animals wander freely through his home on the farm he owned in rural Perthshire.

The entire drove of pigs were eventually taken into care after they were found in a neglected state.

Grindlay, 79, was given the ban and fined £3,205 after admitting neglect charges at Perth Sheriff Court.

The offences took place during March 2022.

He admitted neglecting pigs on his own Tomdarroch Farm, Fearnan, near Aberfeldy, by exposing them to domestic and commercial waste and to the bodies of dead cattle and pigs.

Grindlay also admitted failing to provide adequate nutrition for cattle in his care on rented land at Lower Duallin Farm, Lawers, Perthshire, and failing to protect them from suffering and disease.

Inspectors found pigs on his farm were badly malnourished and had skin wounds while a number of them were suffering from infestations of lice.

'Extreme disrepair'

Fiscal depute Stuart Hamilton told the court: "There are a number of static caravans and the livestock have free access to these units which are described as being in extreme disrepair.

"The accused resides in one of the static caravans referred to."

Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: "Mr Grindlay is no longer in farming.

"He has been retired since March 2022 and doesn't have care of any animals at the present time or any dealings with any animals.

"There is a previous conviction involving animal welfare."

In 2018, Grindlay was admonished after a sheriff convicted him of exposing animals to danger.

He had admitted exposing pigs to machinery and scrap metal with sharp protruding edges in April 2016.