Orcheston farmers sentenced for mistreating cattle
The pair were previously found guilty of animal welfare offences and breaching a disqualification order
Two farmers from Orcheston - near Salisbury - have been sentenced after previously being found guilty of animal welfare offences and breaching a disqualification order on land at Tanners Lane in Shrewton.
69-year-old Michael Babey was sentenced to 20 weeks behind bars, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay costs of £5,000 and a victim surcharge of £154.
Whilst 52-year-old Julia Babey was sentenced to a 12-month community order, fined £100 and must pay a victim surcharge of £114 plus £200 costs.
Both have also been disqualified from keeping all animals except cats, dogs and cockatiels for 10 years.
Both were found guilty of the charges in March this year, with Mrs Babey previously pleading guilty in May 2024 to animal welfare offences and aiding and abetting Mr Babey in breaching his disqualification order.
In sharing the case, Wiltshire Council said how Mr Babey was disqualified from keeping cattle and cows for five years in 2019 to prevent the risk of suffering to his animals. He had also previously been disqualified from keeping equines in 2010.
After these disqualifications were handed to him, Mr Babey's wife became the owner of the cattle - but officers later found that Mr Babey had continued to care for and keep cattle, which is in breach of the order.
An animal health officer and a vet from the Animal and Plant Health Agency visited the farm back in November 2023.
There, they found two dozen cattle on a small site - with 11 kept in a small pen covered in deep slurry and mud.
They found it to have insufficient space for all of the cattle to lie down simultaneously and non-compliant with legal requirements.
Water was highly soiled and not of suitable quality for the animals to drink.
A subsequent visit later in November found conditions had not improved sufficiently.
Then, in January 2024, officers and the same APHA vet visited the farm again.
23 cattle were found to have no access to water, with one cow seen to be licking from an empty water container for five minutes.
The vet’s opinion was that the cattle were being given insufficient amounts of water.
Parvis Khansari, Corporate Director Place at Wiltshire Council, said: “We have a dedicated team of animal health officers at Wiltshire Council who will act quickly to ensure that Wiltshire farmers and livestock owners take good care of their animals.
“Mr and Mrs Babey show little regard for the law and for the welfare of their cattle. I hope that the sentencing today sends a strong message that breaking animal welfare law and mistreatment of animals will not be tolerated in Wiltshire.
“If anyone has concerns related to the health and welfare of livestock, they can contact the animal health team on 0300 456 0100.”