Chester farmer jailed and banned from keeping animals

Jun 23 2008 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

A FARMER was jailed and banned from keeping animals for ten years after running his farm in Chester in a “disturbing” and “horrific” manner.

David Dobbin, 46, formerly of Chorlton Lodge Farm, Backford, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday to four months in prison after pleading guilty to the illegal burial of carcasses, six counts under the Trade Description Act relating to altering the identity of cattle by switching their ear tags contrary to strict cattle identification regulations and animal cruelty.

The judge also took into account 50 cases of failing to keep cattle records.

His former partner Susan Lofthouse, 36, also formerly of Chorlton Lodge Farm, was sentenced to a four month suspended sentence for 12 months and a 150-hour community service order. Both were disqualified from keeping animals for ten years.

Prosecuting, Peter Moss said that on November 7, 2007 Defra investigating officers raided the farm and found a horrific scene ofŠ”truly gothicŠ proportions”, a burial pit full of carcasses and the animals “in terribly poor condition, some almost dead on their feet”.

He said: “One cow was unable to get up, had been in the same position for at least 48 hours and was being pecked by crows.” It was immediately put down.

Strict animal identification regulations mean each bovine must have a passport and corresponding ear tag to ensure they do not exceed a time limit for entering the food chain.

However, Cheshire Trading Standards officers discovered that some of Dobbin and Lofthouse’s herd had the same tag, or one of an animal that was deceased.

This meant their 500 strong herd had to be destroyed, and that cattle which had been sold to others were worth nothing.

Judge Thomas Teague QC said: “There was an overcrowding of animals on the farm, and it was because the farm was not able to support the number of cattle which meant many of them were left undernourished and emaciated and it caused a high number of deaths.”