Farm owner banned from keeping animals for life

A FARM owner allowed his animals to suffer in poor conditions while leaving dead sheep and lambs in a plastic container on his land.

Ricardo James, 42, of Bale Road, Leicester, was sentenced by city magistrates after failing to make improvements to the standard of animal welfare on his farm.

Leicestershire Trading Standards officers and the Animal and Plant

Health Agency (APHA) raised concerns about the poor condition of the animals during a visit to James Farms, in Keyham Lane East, Scraptoft, on November 3 last year.

Several dead sheep and lambs were found in a blue plastic tub at the farm, where 20 other sheep, seven cattle, 13 goats, 20 pigs and 12 geese were also being kept.

James was warned and advised to fix six issues which the inspectors had classed as “requiring improvement”. But a return visit found the standards in which animals were being kept had “rapidly deteriorated” in several areas when they revisited 10 days later.

A number of animals on the land had been left without fresh water, adequate food or suitable shelter.

“Of the six points of requiring improvement, only one had been acted upon,” a spokesperson for the county council said.

James was then charged with 10 offences relating to the care and welfare of his animals.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to all 10 and was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months.

James was also handed a life disqualification from keeping and dealing in farmed animals, which in accordance with the law will be suspended for a 21-day period to allow the animals to be removed.

As part of his sentence, James will not be able to appeal for his disqualification to be lifted for five years. He must pay a victim surcharge of £128 and contribute £500 towards the prosecution’s costs.