A farmer from North Somerset has been banned from
keeping livestock for two years following an appearance
at North Somerset Magistrates Court.
Sarah Hill, aged 55, from Hidden Valley Farm in Winford, pleaded
guilty to seven breaches of animal welfare legislation yesterday
(30 August).
Our trading standards team prosecuted her following reports
received in February about rotting sheep carcases spotted on her
land in Butcombe. When officers visited they found 13 dead sheep at
the site, along with a further 75 with serious underlying health
issues.
Hill pleaded guilty to offences of neglecting her duty of care
to the animals on her farm; failing to provide the flock of sheep
with sufficient feed and failing to care for ill or injured animals
without delay; and failing to dispose of animal remains promptly
making them accessible to other livestock and wildlife with the
consequent risk to their health.
She was fined £2,015 for the offences, ordered to pay £2,000 in
costs and was given a banning order under the Animal Welfare Act
2006 preventing her from keeping sheep, goats and cattle for a
period of two years.
Cllr Peter Bryant, executive member whose portfolio includes
trading standards said: "Our trading standards service aims to help
resolve problems but when serious breaches of animal health and
welfare standards are identified we will take robust enforcement
action. This was a serious case of neglect which had the potential
to affect the welfare of neighbouring livestock and
businesses."
Anyone with information of those not disposing of animal
carcases in the correct way should contact Trading Standards
on 0845 04 05 06 or
trading.standards@n-somerset.gov.uk.
