Farmer left dead animals out to rot and got Facebook army to blockade police seize

dailystar.co.uk:

animals out to rot. Richard Scarfe has been sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court after pleading guilty in November to several charges relating to animal welfare and farm practice violations.The 40-year-old left his farm animals in Lamphey, Wales, in horrific conditions and often without clean drinking water or food.The animal including goats, donkeys, bovines, sheep and pigs were left covered in mud, lack of shelter and were in a distressed state.The offences Scarfe was charged for on January 26 are, failing to comply with an animal by-product requirements, causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals, intentionally obstructing a person exercising an s.18 power relating to an animal in distress, failing to ensure animal welfare and failing to comply with the requirement to notify birth, movement and death of cattle.The owner of the four-acre farm Highland View Fold had been warned several times by welfare inspectors and police officers.Pembrokeshire County Council bought the case to court after describing what they witness on the farm, pigs lying in muddy pens, four animal carcasses found in fields, soiled bedding, dirty water.The court heard, that last year, there was a plan to seize the animals however, Scarfe sent out a message online telling Facebook users that his animals were going to be taken for no reason.This lead to 30 to 40 people showing up on the farm and blocking police attempting to seize them.Scarfe claimed he was being harassed by inspectors despite him having eight years of experience in live stock management.His defence said her client loved the animals and tried his best for them.She gave a defence answer for each claim, saying the dead animals found in the field were left there.