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A Hexham man has been prosecuted under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2011 for not removing dead livestock from fields under his control.
Robert Kent Springett of Ochrelands, Hexham appeared at a prosecution brought by Northumberland County Council heard at Newcastle Magistrates Court on Tuesday 29 May 2012.
An investigation was carried out by the Council’s Animal Health Inspectors in November last year following an anonymous complaint. They found eight dead animals – seven sheep and one cow - in various stages of decomposition located across three different fields at Rowley Head Farm, Hexham.
The council brought eight offences relating to failure to dispose of animal by-products in the approved manner and one further offence of allowing access by animals and birds to animal by-products, which are all contrary to the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2011.
Mr Springett pleaded guilty. He took full responsibility for the dead stock saying that while he had someone else looking after the fields on his behalf he should have been checking them himself and he was aware of his responsibilities to dispose of stock properly.
He received a conditional discharge for 12 months and was ordered to make a contribution towards prosecution costs of £375.
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