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A Somerset farmer who was ‘indifferent’ to the suffering he caused his livestock has been banned from keeping animals for ten years and told to pay £15,000.

Brian Churches, 58, of Yew Tree Farm, Rodney Stoke, Cheddar was convicted at Taunton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (March 6) for a range of animal welfare offences at his two farms in Rodney Stoke and Draycott.

Churches pleaded guilty to 14 charges, including causing unnecessary suffering to a severely lame bull and a lame sheep by failing to either treat the animals, call a vet or arrange their humane destruction.

In a prosecution brought by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards, Churches also failed to provide his animals with a dry lying area and admitted exposing them to a risk of injury by failing to repair broken tin sheeting.

Churches also admitted failing to store feed correctly, failing to protect the feed from hazardous contamination which could harm the health of humans and animals and failing to register and record the births of 36 cattle.

By law cattle births must be registered with the Cattle Movement Service to prevent the potential spread of disease.

There was an additional offence of failing to dispose of a decomposing bovine carcass.

Officers from Trading Standards and the Animal and Plant Health Agency carried out several visits to Churches’ farms between October 2017 and July 2018.

They found that the animals were being kept in appalling conditions, standing in deep wet slurry with no bedding, feed or water.

The district Judge said that Churches had been ‘indifferent’ to the welfare of his stock, and had failed to heed comprehensive advice given by both trading standards and his own vet.

Churches was convicted of similar offences in 2004 and again in 2005 when he had been disqualified from keeping cattle for three years under the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

Following Churches’ conviction he was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £15,000. In addition, an order was made disqualifying Churches from keeping all animals for 10 years.

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These are the charges he pleaded guilty to

Failed to ensure that a sick or injured animal, namely a bull, was isolated in suitable accommodation with dry and comfortable bedding on 18 October, 2017

Failed to make an application to the Secretary of state to register the birth of 36 bovine cattle between November 10 to December 4, 2017

Failed to register the birth of 36 bovine cattle on October 19, 2017

Failed to apply both ear tags to a herd of cattle between November 10 to December 4, 2017

Failed to report the death of 5 bovine animals between November 10 to December 4, 2017 to Secretary of State within seven days

Failed to store and handle wastes and hazardous substances separately and securely to prevent hazard contamination between October 18 to November 27, 2017

Failed to ensure 45 bovine cattle had access to a lying area which was well maintained with dry bedding or well drained on March 9, 2018

Failed to register the birth of 5 bovine cattle on March 9, 2018

On March 9, 2018, he failed to apply both ear tags to a herd of cattle within 20 days of birth

On March 9, 2018, he failed to seek veterinary care for a lame sheep and caused unnecessary suffering to the animal

On October 18, 2017, he failed to seek veterinary care for a lame bull and caused unnecessary suffering to the animal

Failed to ensure adequate and secure accommodation without sharp edges for 20 cattle between October 18 to November 27, 2017

Failed to ensure feed was protected against contamination and spoilage on June 18, 2018

Failed to dispose a bovine carcass on July 4, 2018

Churches was fined £15,000 and banned from dealing with farm animals for 10 years.

He was also ordered to pay £30 in court costs and a £85 victim surcharge as well as undertake 300 hours of community service.

The judge said that Churches had been 'indifferent' to the welfare of his stock and he failed to undertake advice given to him by both trading standards and his own vet.

Churches was convicted of similar offences in 2004 and again in 2005 when he had been disqualified from keeping cattle for three years under the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

Stephen Gardiner, Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standard's legal process manager, said: "The conditions in which these animals were kept fell well below acceptable welfare standards.

"Churches failure to follow the advice of Trading Standards and his own vet left us with no alternative but to take formal action against him in the courts.

"The clear majority of farmers treat their animals well and remain within the law.

"Those who don't, like Churches, can be certain that we will continue to take all necessary action to ensure that animal welfare standards are complied with."

A spokesman for National Farmers Union said: "British farmers adhere to some of the highest welfare standards in the world and take great care of their livestock.

"Farms are regularly inspected to make sure this is the case.

"Where lapses occur and standards are not maintained it is quite right that offenders are prosecuted, as in this case."

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