A POWYS farmer’s non-compliance with maintaining proper records relating to his livestock had the potential to endanger the food supply, the local authority has said.

Robert Evans of Ty Canol Farm, Tafolwern, Llanbrynmair, was prosecuted by Powys County Council’s Animal Health Team for failing to maintain animal medicine records, failing to dispose of dead livestock correctly, causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to provide an animal with adequate care.

Evans, 67, was convicted of four of the six offences he was charged with, admitting two and being found guilty of two more, and was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £13,000 this week.

Councillor Richard Church, cabinet member for a Safer Powys, said: “The defendant’s non-compliance with maintaining records of animal medicines administered to his animals had the potential to endanger the food supply.

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“When it was found that he was not ensuring the welfare of his animals and not complying with record keeping requirements, our officers rightly took the offences seriously and acted, which has resulted in this successful prosecution.”

Evans was convicted at his trial by District Judge Neale Thomas, sitting at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 15, of causing unnecessary suffering to a sheep, by failing to seek veterinary advice or administer treatment; and also found guilty of a charge relating to sheep being inadequately treated for sheep scab infection.

Those offences were discovered after a senior veterinary inspector visited Cefndreboeth Farm, Berriew, one of many properties he owns, on February 4, 2023.

He was acquitted of two further charges.

Evans was fined £1,500 for each of the four charges and ordered to pay a surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £5,000 – a total of £13,000.

Judge Thomas stated he had demonstrated a “cavalier attitude” to his farm management and warned that if he was found guilty of similar offences in the future consideration would be given to banning him from keeping animals, effectively putting him out business.