EWAN WELLS OF LEAMINGTON SPA SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO SHEEP AND CATTLE AT BRIDGE FARM

Ewan David Wells, a resident of Bridge Farm in Hunningham near Leamington Spa, has been found guilty of multiple charges related to animal cruelty. The conviction, announced in 2023, stems from a series of offenses committed over a period spanning from March 1, 2019, to March 1, 2022, involving the mistreatment and neglect of sheep and cattle on his farm.

Wells, born around 1959, had previously faced similar allegations in 2011 and 2020. Despite prior convictions, he continued to neglect his responsibilities as an animal owner, leading to further charges. The prosecution was brought forward by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards, highlighting the ongoing issues at his farm and the failure to improve conditions despite previous warnings.

The investigation was initiated after visits by Trading Standards Animal Health Officers and Veterinary Inspectors from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). These inspections uncovered severe neglect, including a significant build-up of manure, which in some areas reached depths of three feet. Such unsanitary conditions made it difficult for the animals, including young calves, to move freely and contributed to the contamination of water supplies. Water troughs were found to be filled with water contaminated by the muck, posing a serious health risk to the animals.

Further inspection revealed that the farm's feed storage was in a deplorable state. Old, rotten hay and silage had been left at the bottom of feed rings, with animals seen eating from these contaminated sources. In some areas, silage and fodder beets were fed directly from the floor, which was contaminated with faeces, increasing the risk of disease and suffering among the livestock.

The conditions for the sheep were equally concerning. A shed housing approximately 200 ewes and newborn lambs lacked sufficient water provisions, with only a few water buckets available. The poor state of the farm's infrastructure extended to the cattle housing, which was in disrepair. Cattle had access to areas with dangerous barbed wire on the floor and piles of scrap metal, creating hazards and potential injuries.

Despite being prosecuted previously in 2020 for causing unnecessary suffering to a cow, Wells was given an opportunity to rectify these issues. However, subsequent inspections revealed that he had failed to address the problems, leading to this latest conviction.

In sentencing, the court imposed a 16-week custodial sentence, which was suspended for 12 months. Additionally, Wells was ordered to complete a 15-day rehabilitation program, pay £6,000 towards prosecution costs, and a £122 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified indefinitely from owning, keeping, or participating in the care of any animals, except for domestic dogs and cats. This disqualification can be appealed after June 28, 2028.

The case underscores the ongoing concerns about animal welfare and the importance of enforcement to prevent cruelty and neglect on farms in Warwickshire and beyond.