Farmer given lifetime ban for animal cruelty

A Warwickshire farmer has been given a lifetime ban from keeping animals after leaving dead cattle to rot on his land.

Robert Pick, of College Farm, south Warwickshire, was ordered to pay costs of £10,000 and dispose of his herd of cattle after being found guilty of 23 animal health and welfare offences.

Mr Pick was farming land at Rectory Farm, Warmington, when animal health officers paid a visit in March 2009 after receiving a complaint from a member of the public about two animal carcasses on the land.

The carcasses had been partially hidden from view by straw bales.

Despite being asked by animal health officials, Mr Pick failed to dispose of the carcasses correctly.

He was originally banned from keeping animals by Warwick Crown Court in April and had applied to get the ban lifted.

But the ban was upheld and he was ordered to dispose of his stock.