CONVICTED (2017) | farmer Philip R Wilson, born 1971, of Brigsley Road, Waltham, Grimsby DN37 0LB – caused extreme suffering to sheep
Farmer Philip Wilson was handed a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of causing unnecessary and extreme suffering to sheep.
He was charged with several offences of animal cruelty towards sheep kept at Middle Rasen during July 2016.
The case was brought following an investigation by Lincolnshire Trading Standards.
Wilson was convicted in his absence of:
• One count of caring for sheep when he was not familiar with the code of recommendation for the welfare of sheep
• One count of keeping sheep without ensuring that they were cared for by staff with the appropriate ability, knowledge and professional competence
• One count, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, of failing to provide 30 sheep relief from pain, suffering and disease
• Two matters of causing unnecessary suffering to two of the sheep
The chair of the bench, Stephen Beard, stated that they were some of the worst photographs of animal cruelty that all three magistrates had ever seen.
Alan Griffin, Trading Standards officer said: “We were made aware of the poor condition of Mr Wilson’s sheep after local residents had complained to the RSPCA.
“We investigated and found several sheep in a poor physical condition. We made several attempts to meet Mr Wilson, but he failed to attend pre-arranged meetings, and did not comply with vets’ advice that he needed to provide medical treatment for his sheep.
“Through failing to provide basic care, the sheep suffered terribly from fly strike which then resulted in maggots eating into the sheeps’ flesh.
“We found on a visit on July 14 that one ewe had died through lack of treatment. We take animal welfare very seriously and recommended a prosecution due to the extreme suffering caused to these sheep.”
Sentencing: 26 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months; victim surcharge of £115 and prosecution costs of £4,318.31. Banned from owning, keeping, dealing in or transporting sheep indefinitely.