A Teignbridge man found guilty of 22 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 has been told he will never keep animals again.?
Leslie Weatherill, 73, of The Hams, Ide, was found guilty at Exeter Magistrates Court in March after failing to improve the squalid conditions he kept ponies and dogs in.?
The court had heard how Weatherill kept his ponies on an area of scrub and woodland near Doddiscombsleigh which, according to an equine expert, was inadequate for their needs.
An officer from Devon and Somerset Trading Standards visited the site with police and found the area where the ponies were expected to live strewn with rubbish, derelict caravans, abandoned and rusting motor vehicles, barbed wire, corrugated iron and glass.
The animals roamed into neighbouring properties in search of food, with no adequate fencing to keep them in.? Officers found dogs there in poor condition and 28 were seized by police and taken into the care of the RSPCA.
There was evidence of 'significant' rat infestation.
Weatherill denied all 22 charges but this week was sentenced to 12 weeks' custody suspended for 18 months for causing unnecessary suffering.
In addition he was given six weeks' custody for each of 17 duty of care offences under section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act to run concurrently, suspended for 18 months.?
He was disqualified for life from owning or keeping animals, participating in the keeping of animals or being party to any arrangement under which he was entitled to control or influence the way in which animals are kept.?
Weatherill was ordered to pay £50,000 boarding costs for the dogs and £80 victim surcharge.
No separate penalty was given in relation to horse passport offences.?
Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Devon and Somerset Trading Standards service, said: ?'The conditions that these ponies and dogs were kept in fell well below acceptable welfare standards.?
'Mr Weatherill was given lots of advice and ample opportunity to demonstrate that he could comply with the requirements of animal welfare legislation and achieve the necessary standards of care; however, he failed to do so and this left us no alternative but to bring this case to court.'?
RSPCA inspector Marije Zwager said: 'We try to deal with concerns about animal welfare by giving advice wherever possible. Where it is continually not followed and conditions are not improved, as in this case, sadly the only option to protect animals is prosecution.
?'This case sends a message to owners that they have a legal responsibility to provide their animals with the proper care. I can only hope that the disqualification will protect future animals from suffering.'