Three men guilty of running illegal slaughterhouse
THREE men have been found guilty of running a filthy and illegal slaughterhouse in west Wales which showed a “blatant disregard” for food-processing regulations.
The three men were found to be making “smokies” from sheep carcasses that had just been slaughtered when officers from Pembrokeshire Council visited Bramble Hall Farm in Pembroke Dock.
Sean Burns, of Pembroke Dock, and John Clayton and Kenneth Darren Evans, both of Carmarthen, were discovered preparing the carcasses on January 21, 2019.
Smokies are an illegal product made by singeing the fleece of a sheep, leaving the surface of the meat with a distinct and strong smoky smell. They are typically sold to specific ethnic communities which view them as a delicacy.
Smokies cannot be produced legally in Wales, as the skin is left on the carcass of the animal – something that is not allowed for sheep meat in the EU.
Burns, Clayton and Evans all appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday.
Burns, 50, of Bramble Hall Farm, pleaded not guilty to five charges: operating a food establishment without the required approval; operating a slaughterhouse that failed to meet specific legal requirements relating to hygiene; failing to ensure food premises were clean and maintained in good repair; possessing unsafe food for the purpose of sale; and failing to collect animal by-products in accordance with legal requirements. He was found guilty on all counts, and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for each offence, to run concurrently – meaning a whole term of 12 months – suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to pay a victim supplement of £140 and made the subject of a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for five days.
Clayton, 75, of Tregunnor, Carmarthen, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing unsafe food for the purpose of sale; and failing to collect animal by-products in accordance with legal requirements. He was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He denied three charges of operating a food establishment without the required approval; operating a slaughterhouse that failed to meet specific legal requirements relating to hygiene; and failing to ensure food premises were clean and maintained in good repair – but was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Clayton was also made subject to a curfew for three months between 8pm and 8am, required to wear a security tag, handed a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for five days and required to pay a victim supplement of £140.
Kenneth Darren Evans, aged 44, of Llys Caermedi, Carmarthen, admitted two charges of possessing unsafe food for the purpose of sale; and failing to collect animal by-products in accordance with legal requirements.
He was sentenced to 16 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
He was also required to undertake 150 hours’ unpaid work and required to pay a victim supplement of £140 within 28 days.
According to Pembrokeshire Council, it was recognised that current guidance – which recommends that suspended sentences should be considered where appropriate due to the prevalence of Covid-19 in prisons – may have led to leniency being shown by the court, despite the fact that the three men had shown a “blatant disregard to any regulatory control over the slaughter of animals”.
Pembrokeshire Council’s cabinet member for environment, public protection and Welsh language, Cris Tomos, said the authority was “extremely pleased” with the outcome of the case.
Mr Tomos added: “While it was disappointing that costs had not been awarded (to the council) in this protracted and lengthy investigation, it was important that these illegal activities are highlighted to illustrate the fact that such offenders have absolute disregard for the health of any potential purchasers, for any of the rules relating to the safety of food or the wellbeing of the animals which they slaughter.”