Sheep ban for farmer after court plea

ASHEEP farmer from Callington has been given a suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping sheep for a decade after failing to provide adequate care for his animals and not properly disposing of sheep carcasses.

At Bodmin Magistrates Court on April 12, Benjamin James Bennett, aged 41, from Callington, pleaded guilty to failing to care for sheep and failing to dispose of sheep carcasses. Mr Bennett was given a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and banned from keeping sheep for 10 years.

He was ordered to pay £6,577 in costs, as well as a £146 surcharge.

On 22 and 23 July 2021, inspectors from Cornwall Council’s Animal Health Team and Defra’s Animal and Plant Health Agency visited North Kingston Farm in response to a complaint.

On 5 August 2021, the inspectors returned to the farm and discovered further alleged breaches of legislation.

Inspectors found sheep being kept in an unsuitable environment with access to hazardous items including sheet metal cladding and sheep carcasses. Two sheep were said to have been caused unnecessary suffering and were emaciated with other sheep having an inadequate diet. Some of the sheep had flystrike, a painful and sometimes fatal condition caused by flies laying their eggs, and had not received prompt or effective treatment, according to prosecution evidence.

The Court was told that due to family issues the size of the farm had been reduced and as a result Mr Bennett had sought employment elsewhere to supplement his income. This job took his time and was away from the farm so he couldn’t look after the sheep properly.

During sentencing the magistrates gave credit to Mr Bennett for the early guilty plea but said that the severity of the offences passed the custody threshold. They appreciated that Mr Bennett had taken

on some of the advice he had been given but he had not done enough to address the situation. In giving Mr Bennett a disqualification from keeping sheep for the next 10 years they stated this would allow Mr Bennett time to get his life back in order. The ban is suspended for 28 days to give Mr Bennett the opportunity to dispose of his sheep.