A FARMER has been banned from keeping livestock for 10 years and ordered to pay £7,760 in court penalties after dead stock were found lying in fields and animal drinking water.

Richard Sparey of Lodge Farm in Garway admitted 10 charges of failing to correctly store and dispose of a large quantity of animal carcasses when he appeared before Hereford magistrates.

Trading as HJ Sparey and Son, the farmer was also guilty of ensuring the needs of sheep and cattle he managed met required good practice.

The court heard he had failed to heed warnings after being visited by animal health officers.

He was also given an 18-month community order in the case brought by Herefordshire Council’s trading standards service and told to undertake a 20-day rehabilitation requirement.

His court bill included a £2,500 fine, costs of £5165.83 and a victim surcharge of £95.

Magistrates were told that complaints about dead stock in fields were made to the council between March and June 2021.

Officers visited sites where the farmer kept animals and advised him on the needs and conditions of animals in his care.

He was also informed of his requirement to properly dispose of all animal carcasses.

But despite the warnings, officers found dead sheep in water where animals drank as well as carcasses that had not been collected from fields.

They even found a dead cow next to animal feed, the court heard.

Marc Willimont, Herefordshire Council’s head of public protection, said: “This was a particularly serious and distressing case for everyone involved.

“Officers uncovered a very unsuitable farming environment with dead stock left in fields and within water that other animals could drink from.

“The council will continue to support farmers and all livestock keepers to ensure that best practice is maintained on farms and smallholdings.

“We do not tolerate animal suffering and take action against anyone who disregards the welfare of farmed animals.”