Warwickshire News Mine

Farmer Robert Pick also left dead cattle on his property that were seeping effluent, uncovered and open to the elements, rather than dispose of them without undue delay. He also failed to report cattle deaths.

Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service took this successful prosecution to both prevent the spread of disease and protect the welfare of animals.

At Rugby Magistrates Court, on 8th April 2010, Mr Robert Pick was disqualified from keeping animals (with the exception of domestic cats or dogs) for life. He cannot appeal against this Court Order until 8th April 2015.

At an earlier court hearing, Mr Pick of College Farm, Farnborough (the offences took place on Rectory Farm, Warmington), pleaded guilty to 23 animal health and welfare related offences. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs totalling £10,000.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said: “Warwickshire Trading Standards Service works hard to support the farming community.

"However, in the relatively small number of cases when livestock is mistreated and the health of people and farm animals put at risk, we will take action and I am satisfied with the outcome of this case.”

Warwickshire Trading Standards Animal Health Officers were first alerted to problems at Mr Pick’s farm in the March of 2009, when they investigated a complaint from a member of the public who had reported seeing two bovine carcases at Rectory Farm.

The Officers discovered the two carcases partially hidden by straw bales.  When told to remove them, Mr Pick failed to do so without undue delay.

Carcases that are not properly disposed of have a potential to cause vermin and pest infestation and increase the risk of disease outbreaks, both airborne and waterborne, to the surrounding area.

Further, Mr Pick was also convicted of 13 animal welfare offences, nine of which related to causing unnecessary suffering to bulls by failing to treat or obtain veterinary opinion for them for a two week period in March and April 2009. When the bulls were inspected some were reluctant to stand, most finding it difficult to walk on the mucky straw they had been living on. 

One beast took several minutes to stand and at one point was crawling on its front legs due to its inability to rise and stand normally on the muck.  The beast eventually rose but showed great difficulty in walking.

In the opinion of an Animal Health veterinary officer, the bulls were suffering from severe lameness caused by a lack of proper hoof trimming. The lesions found combined with the extremely long claws were a clear indication that the bulls had been suffering for several months.

Mr Pick was also prosecuted for failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the animals which were injured were properly cared for without delay.

Mr Pick was also found to have failed to report cattle deaths and movements and to register cattle - procedures necessary to safeguard food and human health after BSE.

Finally, he also pleaded guilty to one offence of failing to record the details of veterinary medicinal products used on his cattle. This is important to prevent animals which may still have medicines in their systems being slaughtered and entering the food chain.

In mitigation, Mr Roger Austin representing Mr Pick said that his behaviour was out of character and that he felt sincere regret and remorse. Further Mr Austin stated that Mr Pick’s ability to manage his farm properly at that time was seriously impaired by personal issues, not of his making, including family illness.

In June, at Warwick Crown Court Mr Pick applied to have the disqualification lifted. However, the Magistrates Decision to disqualify was upheld and Mr Pick was given 6 weeks to dispose of his livestock ending on 2nd August 2010.

Link to WCC