Aberystwyth Justice Centre sentences two for severe animal welfare violations

On 06 November at Aberystwyth Justice Centre, Ms. Rosie Crees and Mr. John Morgan were sentenced for 8 offences each under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. They failed to meet the needs of over 500 sheep across two holdings. The sheep were deprived of a continuous supply of fresh, clean drinking water. Additionally, the sheep suffered from untreated lameness, a painful condition that affects their ability to walk and graze. Many were kept in sheds with accumulations of manure of several feet, to the extent the animals heads were touching the shed roof.

A sheep with overgrown feetThe defendants also neglected to shear their flock from one year to the next, leading to risks of fly strike and overheating during the summer months. Furthermore, the defendants failed to seek veterinary advice and treatment when required, resulting in two counts of unnecessary suffering of animals under their care.

Officers from the Council’s Public Protection Service had visited their holdings 40 times since 2016, identifying breaches of legislation and providing written advice on legal requirements, which was ignored. The defendants’ lack of engagement with officers was noted as an aggravating factor by the Magistrates.

Both defendants received 12 weeks in custody for unnecessary suffering offences and 8 weeks for offences relating to animal welfare, to run concurrently, along with an 18-month suspended sentence. They were also disqualified from keeping livestock for 4 years and ordered to pay £2579.32 each in costs, plus a £154 surcharge.

Councillor Matthew Vaux is Ceredigion’s Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection; he highlighted the diligence of the officers in promoting animal welfare and stated that the conviction and sentence send a strong message to those neglecting their animal welfare responsibilities. He said: “This case underscores the importance of adhering to animal welfare laws and the serious consequences of neglect. Our officers work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of animals in our community, and we will continue to take robust action against those who fail to meet their responsibilities. Let this serve as a reminder that animal cruelty will not be tolerated, and we will pursue justice for the voiceless victims.”