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| Cruelty farmer given animal ban | Cruelty farmer given animal ban |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Kent farmer has been banned from keeping animals for five years for causing unnecessary suffering to cattle and poultry at his farm in Halstead. | A Kent farmer has been banned from keeping animals for five years for causing unnecessary suffering to cattle and poultry at his farm in Halstead. |
| Craig Sargent, 46, was also fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £20,289 in costs by Sevenoaks magistrates. | Craig Sargent, 46, was also fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £20,289 in costs by Sevenoaks magistrates. |
| The RSPCA found a bull at Oaks Farm with hoofs so overgrown they "looked like Turkish slippers". Other cows were living in up to 3ft (90cm) of slurry. | |
| The fine, costs and disqualification were suspended pending an appeal. | The fine, costs and disqualification were suspended pending an appeal. |
| The court had heard Sargent also had a chicken shed containing birds so badly feather-pecked their backs were bleeding. | The court had heard Sargent also had a chicken shed containing birds so badly feather-pecked their backs were bleeding. |
| Water troughs for pigs, cattle and sheep were dry except for one, which contained a pea-green liquid at the bottom. | Water troughs for pigs, cattle and sheep were dry except for one, which contained a pea-green liquid at the bottom. |
| He chose to ignore advice and these are the consequences Ch Insp Steve Dockery | He chose to ignore advice and these are the consequences Ch Insp Steve Dockery |
| Sargent, who lives rent-free with his parents in Clarks Lane, Halstead, was described as a man of limited means who spent just £20 a week on living expenses. | Sargent, who lives rent-free with his parents in Clarks Lane, Halstead, was described as a man of limited means who spent just £20 a week on living expenses. |
| His smallholding and butcher's shop in south London barely broke even, the court was told. | His smallholding and butcher's shop in south London barely broke even, the court was told. |
| Sargent, who has been a farmer for more than 20 years, was found guilty of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the bull, cattle and poultry. | Sargent, who has been a farmer for more than 20 years, was found guilty of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the bull, cattle and poultry. |
| He was also found guilty of failing to ensure cattle had dry bedding and failing to provide fresh drinking water to cattle, pigs and sheep. | He was also found guilty of failing to ensure cattle had dry bedding and failing to provide fresh drinking water to cattle, pigs and sheep. |
| He was cleared of causing unnecessary suffering to a pregnant cow, whose hooves were allegedly overgrown. | He was cleared of causing unnecessary suffering to a pregnant cow, whose hooves were allegedly overgrown. |
| The five-year ban covers sheep, pigs, poultry and cattle. | |
| After the hearing Ch Insp Steve Dockery, from the Kent RSPCA, said: "Mr Sargent had much advice and guidance regarding the care of the livestock in his control but unfortunately he chose to ignore advice and these are the consequences." | After the hearing Ch Insp Steve Dockery, from the Kent RSPCA, said: "Mr Sargent had much advice and guidance regarding the care of the livestock in his control but unfortunately he chose to ignore advice and these are the consequences." |