At Bodmin Magistrates Court on 06 January 2015, Mr Andrew Arnold a 59-year-old part-time farmer from Ramtor, Rosenun, Liskeard, failed in his appeal against a ban, secured by Cornwall Council in July 2010 and made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, preventing him from keeping sheep.

The Council originally prosecuted Mr Arnold in 1998 when he was given a 7 year ban from keeping cattle following a number of joint inspections with State Veterinary Service vets. In 2010 Mr Arnold was found guilty of welfare offences against sheep, again following inspections carried out by Cornwall Council and the DEFRA’s local Animal Health vets, this time he was banned from keeping all farmed animals for five years. In 2013 the Council again prosecuted Mr Arnold after visits revealed he was keeping sheep in breach of his previous ban and further sheep welfare problems. An extra nine months were added to Mr Arnold’s on-going ban from keeping sheep.

The Council opposed Mr Arnold’s appeal outlining the history and facts surrounding the previous cases with evidence provided by two vets from the Animal and Plant Health Agency and by an Animal Health Inspector for Cornwall Council.

After considering the evidence before them the Magistrates refused Mr Arnold’s appeal and awarded £400 costs to the Council. The current Court imposed livestock ban will therefore stand until April 2016.

Allan Hampshire, Cornwall Council Head of Public Protection & Business Support said, “We are pleased with the outcome of this case which demonstrates the Council’s commitment to upholding orders of the court and ensuring the health and welfare of farm animals in order to maintain the good reputation of the farming industry in Cornwall.”