Ex-rugby star fined for sheep cruelty

09 June 1999

Ex-rugby star fined for sheep cruelty

DUSTY Hare, the former England rugby star turned sheep farmer, has been convicted of animal cruelty.

Mr Hare, 46, was fined 5,000 and ordered to pay 1,450 costs for causing unnecessary suffering to sheep and failing to dispose of animal remains.

Newark magistrates were told that council officials went to Hares 92ha (228 acre) farm in South Clifton, Nottinghamshire, after receiving a complaint.

They found that 75% of the animals in one field were sick.

One was starving because of a broken jaw, two had kidney failure through tapeworm infection and another died on being freed from a ditch.