Pair win animal welfare appeal
A Shropshire haulier and a farmer are celebrating after animal welfare convictions against them involving sheep at Welshpool market were overturned at the High Court in London.
Haulier Robert Pritchard, of Coley Mill Farm House, Coley, Newport, today said he was delighted at the outcome of the appeal announced by the High Court.
"We have been proved right," he said. "I'm very pleased because it was regarded as controversial, not just by us but by the National Farmers' Union and the auctioneers."
Mr Pritchard had been found guilty of transporting unfit sheep to the market, following a two-day trial at Welshpool Magistrates Court in March 2006. He was fined £2,500 with £1,000 costs.
Farmer Paul Leatherland, of East Haddon, Northamptonshire, who owned the sheep, received fines totalling £6,500 and was ordered to pay costs of £1,000.
Both men had been found guilty of offences under the Protection of Animals Act and the Animal Health Act in the case brought by Powys County Council trading standards.
The appeal judges heard livestock had been seized at the market and a decision was made to destroy them without the defendants' consent.
It was argued this meant the defendants were unable to produce any evidence in defence and therefore did not have a fair trial.
The court decided the convictions of both should be quashed and the proceedings against them stayed.
Mr Leatherland had appealed against convictions he permitted unnecessary suffering to three speckled face sheep contrary to the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and permitted sheep to be exposed for sale contrary to the Welfare of Animals at Markets Order 1990 and the Animal Health Act 1981.
Mr Pritchard appealed against two convictions for transporting sheep not being fit for the intended journey.
A Powys County Council spokesman said: "We are aware of the verdict and accept the court's decision."
By Deborah Knox
