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Farmer found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering
Suffering: An ewe with chronic sheep scab
LAST MONDAY (Sep 13), after a trial at Aberystwyth Justice Centre, Mr Lewis Jones of Ynys Hir Farm, Machynlleth was found guilty of two charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 of causing unnecessary suffering to sheep in his care, following an investigation by officers from Ceredigion County Council.
An Animal Health officer from Ceredigion County Council visited land at Tanycastell, Rhydyfelin, Aberystwyth, on 24 December 2015, following receipt of a complaint from a member of the public. The officer found that the flock was suffering from sheep scab, with one sheep suffering so badly that when later examined by an expert who provided evidence at the trial, it was described as being “the worst case of sheep scab he had ever seen”.
The animal had lost most of its fleece and had little protection to the weather conditions during some of the coldest and wettest times of the year.
Also during the inspection, the Animal Health officer found a ram lamb on its own and separated from the flock, walking around in circles in the field. On inspection it was found that the lamb’s horns had been allowed to grow into and against the eyes of the animal, meaning it was blinded and caused suffering.
The court was satisfied that these horns had been causing the animal suffering and expert testimony confirmed that this would have been occurring for a period of weeks. It is normal and reasonable practice for the horns of animals to be trimmed where there is a risk that they may grow inwards towards the head.
Ram lamb: Caused unnecessary suffering due to overgrown horns affecting both eyes
In passing sentence, District Judge John Parsons told Mr. Lewis Jones: “The inspections of your flock have simply been inadequate. We know that the Council Inspector was easily able to find and identify the suffering of the ewe. And he was able to identify the ram as suffering from its behaviour.”
Mr. Lewis Jones, who is 76 and has been farming all his life, was fined £200 per offence and ordered to pay £2,564 of prosecution costs along with a £30 victim surcharge.
Commenting on the case, Head of Lifestyle Services at Ceredigion County Council, Mr Huw Williams, said: “Our Animal Health Officers work with the local farmers and the agricultural community in general to ensure that good animal welfare standards are maintained in the county. The vast majority of farmers work hard to ensure that the highest possible welfare standards for their livestock.
DYFED-POWYS POLICE is saying ‘we care’ during National Safeguarding Week (Nov 13-17) by highlighting the work it does day in day out to protect vulnerable children and adults.
Police officers and staff have teamed up with partner agencies to raise awareness of issues that affect vulnerable people in communities on behalf of the Regional Safeguarding Board for Children and Adults.
There will be themed days throughout the week where information will be provided to people in need of support or those who can help to protect people at risk of harm. Officers will also be promoting support services available to people such as Llamau missing persons debrief workers who liaise with children are have been missing and at risk of CSE, Independent Domestic Violence Officers (IDVA) officers who support those at high risk of domestic abuse Goleudy, an independent commissioned service for victims and witnesses of crime.
A Crucial Crew event will also be running in Pembrokeshire Monday to Friday, where police will give an input on cyber safety to all primary school children attending. There will also be focussed delivery of key topics in schools throughout the force area on topics including Child Sexual Exploitation, consent, grooming and safer relationships as well as a specific focus on bullying in schools where pupils get to discuss the difference between ‘banter’ and ‘bullying’ and look at the effect of bullying on children.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Claire Parmenter said: “Dyfed-Powys Police has dedicated teams who work with partner agencies to protect the most vulnerable including children, the elderly, people suffering domestic abuse and people with mental health issues. We care about our communities and we care about doing the best possible job we can to ensure we effectively look after those who are vulnerable. National Safeguarding Week is a perfect opportunity to strengthen our relationships with partners and to ensure the information people need to stay safe gets out there to the communities we serve.”
Detective Superintendent Anthony Griffiths said: “Safeguarding the vulnerable within our community is a priority for Dyfed-Powys Police. This week officers will be engaging with mental health teams, residential care providers, schools and the community to ensure that safeguarding is at the forefront of people’s minds and that everyone knows where support can be accessed.”
Themed activities for the week are as follows:
Monday – Child Sexual Exploitation
Officers and PCSOs will be out and about highlighting the signs of child sexual exploitation, particularly at hotels and guest houses where vulnerable children could be taken to be exploited. Officers and Llamau workers will also be visiting children highlighted as at risk of child sexual exploitation to ensure they are safe and understand the dangers of putting themselves at risk or going missing. They will also visit schools to ensure the messages get to the right people.
Tuesday – Modern Day Slavery
Raising awareness of the signs of modern day slavery within the police service to ensure officers recognise the signs and understand how to investigate effectively. Officers will also be on patrol distributing leaflets on the signs of modern day slavery.
Wednesday – Mental Health and Resilience
Officers and PCSOs will be visiting Mental Health Units promoting the services we provide that could be of benefit to people with mental health conditions, including how to report hate crime, encouraging people to talk about mental health, and raise awareness of the partnership safeguarding approach in place to protect vulnerable people. They will also be holding information roadshows in town centres and other locations.
Thursday – Cyber Security
Work will be carried out to raise awareness amongst the vulnerable of the potential harm of cybercrime and how they can become cyber secure. In Ceredigion, online safety information will be given at Coleg Ceredigion in the morning and Tesco in the afternoon. A Safeguarding conference will be held at Pembrokeshire College, bringing together professionals to find out more about cyberbullying, cyber fraud and exploitation.
Friday – Domestic Abuse
Domestic Abuse officers will be linking in with domestic abuse support services to offer advice on police responsibilities in domestic abuse cases and to encourage future reporting of cases and visit domestic abuse sufferers to ensure they are aware of the support available to them.
DYFED-POWYS POLICE is investigating a suspicious incident following a report that a man approached a young boy at the Glanceulan Estate, Penrhyncoch, Aberystwyth on Saturday (Jan 14).
The incident occurred between 3pm and 3:45pm.
The boy was not hurt in any way and did not engage in conversation with the man. Officers attended the area immediately but the man was not located.
The man is described as being dressed in dark/black trainers, trousers and jacket and carrying a mobile phone.
Enquiries are continuing and police are carrying out extra patrols in the area.
PC Sarah Edwards said: “We’re carrying out enquiries to try to identify this man. I must emphasise that no one was hurt and that officers are doing everything we can to identify the person and to make sure the area remains safe.”
“Anyone with information is urged to call 101.”
THERE are just days left for one lucky winner to claim a Euromillions prize of £1,000,000 and a ‘Luxury Trip to the Gold Coast’.
The winning ticket for the July 29 draw last year was bought in Carmarthenshire and the ticket had the winning UK Millionaire Maker code of BRR 888846.
If you have any old tickets lying around, check it as soon as possible – if it has that code on it, pick up the phone and claim your prize!
The deadline to claim the prize is next Wednesday, January 25.
Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at The National Lottery said: “Time really is running out for the winner of this prize, but we are still hopeful that someone will come forward at the very last minute to claim the money.
“We’re urging everyone to check their old tickets one final time or look anywhere a missing EuroMillions ticket could be hiding.
“This life-changing prize could really help to make dreams become a reality for someone out there.”
If the prize isn’t claimed the funds will go to Lottery funded organisations around the UK.
To claim the prize call 0844 338 7551 or email help@national-lottery.co.uk
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