Harrogate farmer banned from keeping animals for life after allowing lifestock to suffer

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Christopher Kendall, 70, of Dene Park, Harrogate, failed to provide adequate care or treatment to dozens of sheep and pigs kept on land in Minskip, many of which were in such a poor state of health they needed euthanasia.

Some of the sheep had maggot-infested hooves and one had a broken leg which went untreated.

Kendall admitted 18 charges - the vast majority for causing unnecessary suffering - relating to the abject conditions in which he kept the animals, causing them “substantial harm or distress”.

He was given a 14-week prison sentence at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court, but this was suspended for two years.

The animals’ prolonged suffering was over a period of at least three months, between September and December 2019.

Some of the sheep had “chronically” infected feet with maggots. Fifteen others were suffering lameness and distress.

About half a dozen pigs and six piglets were not given enough fresh drinking water and were kept in dangerous conditions in a building with metal sheeting which was “bent and broken”. Their pens had similar hazards and metal sheeting was left lying on the straw.

Kendall also admitted failing to collect or dispose of animal by-products, namely sheep’s carcasses, without undue delay, causing a public health risk.

An order was made under the Animal Welfare Act that Kendall be barred from keeping any animals, except dogs, for life. The order was suspended until March 12 to give him time to make alternative arrangements for the remaining animals.

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He was made to pay £911 prosecution costs and a £122 statutory surcharge.