David Davies, aged 61, and Evan Meirion Davies, aged 50, of Penffynnon Farm, Bangor Teifi, Llandysul have been imprisoned for 24 weeks each, following their refusal to comply with a previous court order banning them from keeping Animals for 5 years.
Appearing before Judge Parsons at Aberystwyth Magistrates Court on 25 February 2020, both men maintained they were not guilty to a charge that between 31 December 2019 and 27 January 2020, that they had breached a disqualification from owning animals, keeping animals, and from participating in the keeping of animals. The brothers had originally been disqualified under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, after conviction and sentence on 14 February 2019 involving the deaths of multiple cattle on their farm.
Councillor Gareth Lloyd, Cabinet member for Finance and Public Protection stated: “Both brothers have persistently disregarded a court order banning them from keeping animals. This order was originally imposed by the court, because of their extreme neglect of their animals, which resulted in the slow and unnecessary deaths of 58 cattle on their farm. The scenes witnessed by council staff, vets, police officers and contractors at the time were horrific. The council would have much preferred the brothers obeyed the order, but their utter refusal to comply has cost them their liberty and the ownership of the remaining livestock.”
Following evidence from Ceredigion County Council, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and from the brothers themselves, the judge found both brothers guilty and imposed an immediate custodial sentence. The judge ruled that the offence was so serious, because of their flagrant disregard of Court orders and persistent breach of animal disqualification. The offence was also committed in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed during their initial conviction.
Councillor Lloyd continued, “This has been an extraordinary and exceptional case and is completely at odds with the high standards of care provided by the overwhelming majority of Ceredigion farmers to their animals. This case has tested all the agencies involved, and I am extremely grateful to our staff, our partner agencies and to the courts for their patience and professionalism in bringing this matter to a close.”
In addition to a custodial sentence, the court directed that the farm’s cattle should be placed in the possession of Ceredigion County Council. The court also ordered Ceredigion County Council be reimbursed by Mr D. Davies and Mr E. M. Davies for the expenses incurred in carrying out the Courts Orders, to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £122 and to pay costs of £425.
02/03/2020