Farmer found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to animals
Date of alert:
Thursday, 11 January 2024
Crime Ref:
Force:
Gloucestershire Constabulary
A Gloucestershire farmer has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a ram, failing in his duty of care to five ewes and also of failing to dispose of the carcasses of at least five sheep.
Nick Rowe, aged 63, of Hill Farm Cottage, Frocester Hill, Frocester, Stonehouse, appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 8 for sentencing after he admitted six charges brought by Gloucestershire County Council’s trading standards service.
The case against the Gloucestershire farmer arose after a complaint in May 2022 from a member of the public concerned about the condition of a flock of sheep in a field in Castle Lane, Moreton Valence.
During their inspection they found a ram that was so badly lame on all four feet that it could barely walk.
According to Gloucestershire County Council it had maggots in one of its hooves and raw tissue on another hoof and was destroyed by the farmer to prevent any further suffering.
Rowe was sentenced to 15 weeks in prison, suspended for a year and disqualified from owning and keeping farm animals for a period of 10 years.
The farmer from Stonehouse was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service and to pay the full prosecution costs of £1,958, as well as a victim surcharge of £128.
