The former UKIP elction candidate for the Camborne and Redruth seat has been jailed for four months after 'appalling' cases of animal cruelty were discovered on his smallholding.

David Evans, who has a smallholding near Bude, was sentenced to four months in prison and banned from keeping sheep by District Judge Kevin Grey for animal cruelty offences described by Cornwall Council officers as the worst they had ever seen. He was also ordered to pay costs of £714.

Mr Evans, a smallholder from Week St Mary, near Bude, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to :

In February 2014 causing unnecessary suffering to 6 sheep by failing to prevent emaciation.

In February 2014 causing unnecessary suffering to 9 sheep by failing to treat their lameness.

In February 2014 failing to dispose of 119 sheep carcasses 4) In February 2014 failing to store 119 sheep carcasses away from animals or birds.

In March 2014 causing unnecessary suffering to a sheep by failing to prevent its emaciation.

And in March 2014 failing to provide sheep a clean dry lying area.

Mr Evans, who owns about 40 acres of land, was found to have 119 carcasses of sheep in various states of decay scattered across his farm.

Animal carcases must be disposed of correctly in order to minimise the potential for disease transmission to wild animals and other livestock.

Inspectors from Cornwall Council’s Public Health and Business Support Service and vets from The Animal and Plant Health Agency who visited the farm on 6 February, also found 145 sheep in such an appalling condition that they had to be put to sleep to prevent them from experiencing further pain.

The court heard that Mr Evans had been offered help and advice by both Cornwall Council and The Animal and Plant Health Agency in 2012 but had chosen not to follow the suggestions which had been made.

Jonathan McCulloch, the council’s animal health inspector who investigated the case, said: “In 15 years as an Animal Health Inspector, this case is by far the worst I have ever experienced. Dead sheep were scattered across the farm, new born lambs had died after getting stuck in mud. Mr Evans had done very little to ensure the safety of his sheep, his sheds were full of junk so the sheep had no shelter from the weather. The lame and emaciated sheep were just ignored.”

Allan Hampshire, Cornwall Council’s head of the public health and business support service, added: “The Animal and Plant Health Agency must be thanked for all the help they gave in this case. Officers from the Agency fed and cared for the surviving sheep for nearly a week until Mr Evans was well enough to take charge of them. Smallholders must be aware that the Animal Welfare Act does not make a distinction between pet and farmed sheep, I would suggest that newcomers to agriculture understand the efforts involved in keeping animals prior to buying them.”

Geoff Brown, the council’s cabinet member for homes and communities, said “This was an appalling case of animal neglect and I would like to thank our animal welfare team for their efforts. For staff to discover 119 carcasses and then have to put down a further 145 sheep is unprecedented and clearly the court has acknowledged the seriousness of these offences.

“It is even more frustrating that Mr Evans failed to heed the earlier advice given to him by council officers and I hope this sentence sends a clear message to other small holders”.

South West Farmer:

South West Farmer:

South West Farmer: