Farmer in north Dorset banned from keeping sheep after neglect conviction
Nigel Anthony Turner pleaded guilty to numerous offences at Weymouth Magistrates Court
Nigel Anthony Turner, a farmer from Ryme Intrinseca near Sherborne, has been convicted of multiple offences related to sheep neglect and consequently prohibited from owning or keeping sheep for two years.
The 56-year-old appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court on 26th January 2026 and admitted to 19 charges of cruelty.
Last year, officials from Dorset Council's Trading Standards received a complaint about the welfare of sheep in Ansty.
A subsequent investigation revealed 140 sheep living in insufficient conditions with inadequate grazing and no supplemental food.
Many sheep were malnourished, and 11 were found dead, while distressing cases involved a lamb trapped in a waterlogged ditch and two ewes near death.
Authorities immediately contacted a veterinary officer from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
One ewe had to be euthanised, and the lamb died during a veterinary examination.
Despite being instructed to provide proper care to a compromised ewe, Mr Turner failed to act, resulting in the animal's death.
Compounding the neglect were several rams contributing to indiscriminate breeding, leaving young ewes pregnant.
Further investigations on 4th February 2025 exposed a lack of adequate ear tagging and absence of movement and medicine records.
Following his guilty plea on 28th October 2025, and considering the seriousness of the charges, Mr Turner received a 12-week suspended sentence.
He was also ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge and a £500 contribution towards prosecution costs, with 56 days to comply.
Cllr Gill Taylor, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Prevention, stated: “The vast majority of livestock keepers in Dorset care passionately about their animals, and so it is very disappointing and frustrating when cases like this happen.
“This was an appalling and shocking case of animal neglect, and we will not tolerate such acts of cruelty.
“Our trading standards team will investigate cases like this thoroughly and take steps to ensure they are not repeated.”