30/11/2006 - North Cumbrian farmers jailed for animal neglect

A father and son from Southwaite in Carlisle have been jailed for a total of 210 days by Carlisle magistrates for causing unnecessary suffering to animals and other offences.

Steven John Littleton, aged 26, of Burble Farm, Macey Bank and his father Ian Christopher Littleton, 56, now living at Scotby, Carlisle had earlier each pleaded guilty to the offences which were committed on 28 September 2005.

The offences came to light when officers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Cumbria's Trading Standards department visited the farm following a complaint.

Ian Littleton was sentenced to 60 days for causing unnecessary suffering to six calves and a further 60 days imprisonment to run consecutively for failing to dispose of calf and poultry carcasses.

For allowing livestock access to those carcasses he was sentenced to a further 60 days to run concurrently. He was also banned from keeping livestock for 10 years.

Steven Littleton, the owner of the animals, was sentenced to 45 days imprisonment for failing to dispose of calf and poultry carcasses and additional 45 days to run consecutively for allowing livestock access to the carcasses.

The charges were brought by Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards department whose head, Phil Ashcroft said after today's sentencing: “The level of neglect involved made this a particularly serious case.”

John Kelsey from the State Veterinary Service, said: "Care of livestock is a serious matter, any failure to do so must be judged appropriately as reflected by the severe penalties imposed on this occasion."

ENDS

Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-6063337