A Staffordshire livestock owner has been sentenced after serious welfare failings involving almost 100 cattle were uncovered at a farm near Uttoxeter.
Jennifer Bennett, aged 30, of Brookside View, Hodge Lane, Birchcross, Uttoxeter, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 30 July.
She received a 14 week suspended jail sentence, 12 months of community service, was ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge, and was disqualified from keeping animals for ten years.
The case followed an unannounced inspection by Staffordshire County Council's Trading Standards Animal Health Team at Brookside View on 25 March last year.
During the inspection, officers found multiple cattle in extremely poor condition.
Numerous animals were found dead, while others were emaciated and unable to stand. Officers also discovered cattle without adequate access to feed or water, along with calves being kept in dirty conditions.
Nearly 100 cattle were removed from the farm to prevent further suffering.
Many of the animals required extensive veterinary treatment, while some were in such poor health that they had to be put down.
District Judge O’Connor told the court:
“Jennifer Bennett is the person responsible for the welfare of the animals as the legal owner and there was a significant period of neglect which led to disease and death.”
Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“This is another incredibly distressing animal welfare case our Trading Standards officers have had to deal with.
“The suffering uncovered in this case was significant and required immediate action to protect the animals involved.
“We take animal welfare extremely seriously and will not hesitate to pursue robust enforcement action where standards fall below the law.”
The investigation also uncovered suspected offences relating to cattle identification and animal by products legislation.
Ms Bennett’s father, Alan Bennett, who had day to day responsibility for the care of the cattle, is due to be sentenced separately at Stafford Crown Court.
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