CONVICTED (2011) | David Holmes, born 13/05/1956, of Fairdale, Hen Holme Lane, Silsden, Keighley BD20 0LX – repeated cruelty towards farm animals despite previous bans Holmes continually ignored court orders which have banned him from owning animals, the court heard. The prosecution was brought by Bradford Council following his breach of the order on February 17, 2011. The offence came to light when he was seen muck-spreading on his land in Silsden by a Council environmental health officer. Holmes denied the offence and the case went to trial, with District Judge, Susan Bouch, finding in the Council’s favour. Sentencing was remitted to magistrates in March 2011, who as well as sending Holmes to prison, also issued a new disqualification under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which has greater powers. It means that he cannot keep or own any animals and he cannot participate in any schemes that are involved with animals for the next ten years. Neither can he apply for appeal against the ban for the next five years. Holmes already has two previous disqualification bans after prosecutions brought by Bradford Council and the RSPCA but he has continued to breach those bans, the District Judge was told during the trial. After the case, Jonathan Balsham, the Council’s consultant solicitor, said: “While Holmes keeps on breaching the laws relating to animals, we will continue to prosecute him. “He has shown no regard for animal welfare or for the court orders and we are pleased that the court has taken a serious view of these matters and has sentenced him accordingly.” Holmes was imprisoned for six months and banned for life from keeping animals in 1999. He already had two court fines, for cruelty to a ewe and a ram, when he was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to cattle. In November 2009 he was caught presenting cattle at Skipton auction mart in Gargrave Road, Skipton and sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work and had to pay £4,548 in costs. He went on to notch up further convictions for repeatedly flouting the ban, cruelty to sheep and cattle and illegally trying to move sheep to France. His final conviction came in 2011 when he was jailed for six months and received a fourth lifetime ban for causing unnecessary suffering to livestock. Sentencing: jailed for six months and a further lifetime ban on keeping animals was issued. Telegraph & Argus 15/03/2011 Telegraph & Argus 01/07/2010 Telegraph & Argus 22/06/2003 Updates In July 2016 Holmes appealed unsuccessfully to have his lifetime ban on keeping livestock lifted. Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said Holmes, who has four lifetime bans under the Animal Welfare Act, would never be deemed a fit and proper person to care for animals. He had a total of 13 relevant convictions and lost appeals stretching back 20 years, the court heard. “There is an appalling background of distressing cruelty to animals,” the judge said.