A farmer in Devon has been given a suspended prison sentence and a ban on keeping animals for animal welfare offences.

Diana Swabey, New House Farm, Devon was sentenced on Wednesday, April 26, after pleading guilty to 16 charges relating to animal welfare.

Her premises was visited by APHA in March 2022 where inspectors found numerous animals in poor conditions including cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and poultry.

READ MORE: Animals seized from Pembrokeshire farm and man arrested

Swabey has been sentenced with a 16 week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work on each of the four unnecessary suffering charges. She has also been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

The previous day, Timothy Dean Harris was sentenced at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court for animal welfare offences. He was handed a 20-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £5,000 in costs and £128 victim surcharge. He has been banned from ever owning farm animals again.

Aled Edwards, head of field delivery England for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), said: “APHA takes potential breaches of animal welfare legislation very seriously and investigates all allegations.

“These cases demonstrate our robust enforcement processes, and the effective collaboration between ourselves and local authorities. I welcome these sentences from the courts and hope they will act as a deterrent to others.”

Every livestock farm, regardless of scale, must comply with all relevant legislation, including comprehensive environmental and animal welfare rules.

Anyone who has serious concerns about the welfare of livestock is always urged to report issues immediately to the APHA so that urgent action can be taken by telephoning 03000 200 301 or emailing customeradvice@apha.gov.uk