Farmer banned from keeping sheep after repeated incidents of cruelty
Visits at a farm in Hutton revealed prolonged and repeated incidents of cruelty
A man has been sentenced after inspectors found repeated incidents of sheep cruelty on land at Hatton.
64-year-old Malcolm Metcalfe pleaded guilty to eight animal health and welfare offences.
Beverley Magistrates' Court heard how animal health officers have been involved with Metcalfe since 2021.
Multiple reports of dead sheep on land he looked after were made to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Inspectors say various visits revealed "ongoing failures to remove sheep carcasses, repeated findings of decomposing remains, recumbent sheep, and inadequate access to water."
Despite notices for Metcalfe to remove carcasses and obtain veterinary investigation, inspectors continued to find dead sheep.
A post‑mortem examination on one lamb revealed severe parasitic gastroenteritis.
The vet examining this lamb said a “competent stockkeeper should have recognised and acted upon the condition sooner.”
The sentence
Metcalfe has been sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.
He's been banned from owning, keeping, transporting, participating in the keeping, and being party to an arrangement under which he is entitled to control or influence the way in which sheep are kept, for five years.
Metcalfe will also have to pay £1778.01 in costs and £154.00 for the suspended sentence order.