CONVICTED (2017) | William Thomas Gerald Benney, born c. 1941, of Trease Farm, Cury Cross Lanes, Helston TR12 7QU – laughed in court over horrific case of rotting lambs’ carcasses discovered on his land
Animal inspectors were stunned to find scenes of horror on William Benney’s farm where rotting lambs carcasses were found.
Surviving sheep were found lame and stumbling on bloodied feet, and distressing images reveal the shocking conditions in which animals lived.
On one visit, stunned inspectors discovered a pool of blood where lambs’ tails had been sliced off without anaesthetic.
The court heard Benney was formerly a proud and well-respected member of the agricultural community.
He was the third generation of his family at Trease Farm and had worked there for 60 years – from the age of 16.
He had won numerous prizes for his sheep at shows and during his career had been at times a president of Helston Fatstock Show, parish councillor and village hall committee chairman.
However, the court heard Benney had become unwell in recent years and admitted he could no longer care for the sheep.
Benney pleaded guilty to failing to prevent unnecessary suffering to his sheep, docking tails without anaesthetic, failing to treat lameness in the animals, failing to record the medicine used on the flock and failing to dispose of 35 sheep carcasses.
At one point in the hearing, Benney appeared to chuckle and was severely reprimanded by Judge Diane Baker, who said to him: “I don’t find any of this funny at all.
“You should listen carefully to what’s been said and not make any funny noises or shake your head.”
Later, Benney became tearful as the full evidence was ready out.
Kingsley Keat, prosecuting on behalf of Cornwall Council, said an animal welfare inspector and a Defra vet visited the farm in March 2017 where they found the bodies and skeletal remains of 35 lambs and sheep.
He said: “Many were very decomposed, indicated that they had been there a long time. They were scattered across the fields. Some of the new-born lambs appear to have got stuck in mud and died as a result.”
He said out of 120 sheep, a quarter were found to be lame and bleeding from foot-rot. One animal had pus oozing from a swollen leg.
Mr Keat said Benney had told the inspectors he had been unable to care for the animals for two weeks as he had flu, had hurt his knee and was suffering from sheep-dip poisoning.
He said Benney had asked a friend to look after the animals but admitted she did not have any experience of caring for sheep.
Mr Keats said on a later visit in August, the inspectors found Benney had recently used a carving knife to dock the tails of lambs without anaesthetic, which is against the law.
Judge Baker said to Benney: “If you had been a younger man, I would be sending you straight out that door to immediate custody.
“I do think your offending crosses the custody threshold but because of your age, your previous good character and health difficulties, I am going to suspend the period of imprisonment.”
She added: “This is one of the worst animal welfare cases I have recently dealt with. It involves a large number of animals and a long period of neglect.”
Sentencing: four months in prison, suspended for two years. Ordered to pay prosecution costs of £6,329. Banned from keeping sheep or cattle for ten years.
Its such a shame they suffered, as he obviously did not intend any of this, as due to his good back ground and the Farm being owned for the past 3 Generations. Old Age and ill Health, people need to realize when to Admit and say enough is enough and I need to Retire. I Cannot do this any more. Put the Land out to Tender, or Rent the Land out to Near by Farmers who are younger people, and can continue to look after the Sheep. That way at least they are continued to be looked after and you also still own the Farm and Land ect. also on his good days of better Health maybe could have seen to them part time.