Men slaughtered lambs to sell
Three Powys men were caught on camera slaughtering two lambs on a farm in broad daylight. They later tried to sell the meat to a hotel. Three Powys men were caught on camera slaughtering two lambs on a farm in broad daylight. They later tried to sell the meat to a hotel. The men killed the animals before stringing them up on a tree and gutting them, Magistrates in Llandrindod Wells were told yesterday. The three committed the act because they were trying to make money by selling the meat to a local hotel. Andrew Dunnett of Maes y Deri, Rhayader, James Henderson, of Maes y Brennin, Rhayader, and John Rowe, of Close Green, Llanelli, appeared before magistrates. They admitted charges of stealing two lambs, causing unnecessary suffering to them, failing to dispose of animal byproducts and offering the meat for human consumption. Sentencing was adjourned until Friday for reports to be conducted on each of the men. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Three Powys men were caught on camera slaughtering two lambs on a farm in broad daylight. They later tried to sell the meat to a hotel.The men killed the animals before stringing them up on a tree and gutting them, Magistrates in Llandrindod Wells were told yesterday. The three committed the act because they were trying to make money by selling the meat to a local hotel.
Andrew Dunnett of Maes y Deri, Rhayader, James Henderson, of Maes y Brennin, Rhayader, and John Rowe, of Close Green, Llanelli, appeared before magistrates.
They admitted charges of stealing two lambs, causing unnecessary suffering to them, failing to dispose of animal byproducts and offering the meat for human consumption.
Sentencing was adjourned until Friday for reports to be conducted on each of the men.
Mrs Karen Kirkwood, prosecuting, said that the three men were caught on camera on February 9 on a farm in Rhayader.
She said a nearby farm had been filming red kites flying in the area, when one of the men behind the camera noticed the three defendants chasing and slaughtering the two lambs.
She said the camera focused on the incident and it was clear that having slaughtered the sheep, the men then strung them up and gutted them, before putting the meat in bin bags and heading towards the town centre.
The men had asked the chef at a hotel if he wanted the meat, and having believed it was genuine meat from a licensed slaughterhouse, he agreed.
But upon arrival in the town, the news had reached the hotel that the men had illegally caught the meat and the police were called and they were arrested.
Mrs Jane Thomas, for Dunnett, Henderson and Rowe, said the men had all entered early guilty pleas and were fully co-operative with the police.
She said it was an offence that was out of character and that the three men had been told they had to commit the offence by somebody else.
Mrs Thomas said two of the defendants had been out of work and they were looking to raise money.
She said they were very sorry for their actions.
By Andrew Morris