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Farmers fined £21,000
THREE farmers have been fined £21,000 after animal health, welfare and food hnygiene offences were uncovered.
Colin, Katherine and Mark Chambers were sentenced at Beverley Magistrates Court on Wednesday, February 24, following an investigation by East Riding of Yorkshire Council officers.
Between them Colin and Katherine Chambers were ordered to pay a total of 21,000 after admitting animal health and welfare offences and food hygiene offences discovered at their farm holdings situated at Rotsea Carr, Easingwold and Rudston.
Colin and Katherine Chambers were each given a two year conditional discharge and banned from owning, keeping or being party to arrangements for cattle sheep and other similar non-household animals for five years.
Colin Chambers was ordered to pay fines of 6,000 and prosecution costs of 3,000.
Katherine Chambers was ordered to pay fines of 9,000 and prosecution costs of 3,000.
Their son, Mark Chambers was also sentenced and was given a two year conditional discharge following being found guilty, and in one instance pleading guilty, to offences under animal by-products legislation.
At sentencing District Judge Earl, hearing the case, said: "I have given serious thought as to whether it would be appropriate to put you out of business completely.
"I also have to consider the public interest and public safety.
"Nothing heard indicates the public has already been harmed, but that does not mean that they might not have been in future. Had it continued along the downward spiral, that is what might be expected."
The investigation involved officers from the council's animal health, food services and legal teams alongside veterinary officers from Defra's Animal Health Agency.
It followed the receipt of a complaint from a member of the public in relation to the finding of sheep carcases whilst walking across land farmed by the Chambers family at Rudston.
When the animal health officer from the council attended a significant number of dead livestock were found at the site.
Later visits to the three sites farmed by the Chambers revealed moribund livestock, several of which had to be euthanised during the visits following examination by Defra veterinary officers and large numbers of dead livestock which had not been disposed of correctly.
In addition both cattle and sheep were found housed in unsuitable conditions and without feed or water.
Food services officers of the council were additionally involved in the investigation of poor standards of hygiene evident in the food preparation areas of the Rotsea farm unit
Colin and Katherine Chambers operate the Black Sheep Meat Company and are regular stall holders at farmers markets throughout the county.
They attended the monthly event held at The Courtyard in Goole when it first opened but organiser Linda Thornton confirmed this week that they hadn't been for over a year.
Paul Abbott, ERYC's acting head of public protection, said "This has been a fine example of the council working together in partnership with Defra's Animal Health Agency in securing a worthwhile conviction.
"This prosecution shows how seriously this council and its partner agencies take these crimes. We will continue to act to protect public health, and to protect the welfare of animals.
"The fact that the judge was willing to disqualify Mr and Mrs Chambers from keeping animals for a period of five years demonstrates the gravity of the situation."
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Weather for Goole
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
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Cloudy
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