JOHN AND SAM READ'S CRUELTY IN PRAZE AN BEABLE: FARM ANIMAL ABUSE LEADS TO PRISON AND BAN

John and Sam Read, residents of Prospect Farm in Higher Trethannas, Praze An Beeble, have been found guilty of a series of severe animal welfare violations that have shocked the local community and animal rights advocates alike. The case, which culminated in a court hearing on August 4, 2021, revealed a disturbing pattern of neglect and cruelty inflicted upon farm animals over a period of time.

John Read, born in December 1949, and his son Sam Read, born in 1985, had moved from London to Cornwall approximately two decades earlier with the intention of establishing a smallholding farm. However, their management of the farm, located at Prospect Farm in Praze An Beeble, was marred by repeated failures to meet basic animal welfare standards. The Cornwall Council’s Animal Health Team conducted inspections in December 2020, uncovering appalling conditions that prompted further investigations.

During the initial visit, inspectors observed animals in a state of neglect, with several sheep and cattle suffering from malnutrition and poor living conditions. One lamb was so weak it could barely walk, and multiple animals appeared emaciated, indicating a lack of proper nutrition. The situation deteriorated further during a follow-up inspection in January 2021, where inspectors found cattle kept without adequate food or bedding. Cows kept indoors were caked in manure, and sheep were covered in mud, shivering from the cold, highlighting the neglect and failure to provide a safe and humane environment.

Additional complaints received in May 2021 revealed ongoing issues. Inspectors found goats with overgrown hooves, access to contaminated water, and cattle being fed poor-quality hay. These findings underscored the persistent neglect and failure to meet the basic needs of the animals under the Read family's care.

At the court hearing, the Read family pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to animal cruelty and neglect. The charges included failing to provide cattle with clean, well-drained lying areas, neglecting to protect cattle from dangerous objects, and failing to ensure geese and ducks had access to clean litter, proper lighting, and ventilation. They also admitted to neglecting a lame lamb, which was not given prompt or effective treatment, and failing to provide six yearling bullocks and heifers with suitable living conditions.

The court sentenced John and Sam Read to 19 weeks in prison and imposed a ten-year ban on keeping farm animals, reflecting the severity of their offenses. Both defendants appealed the decision to Truro Crown Court, where they argued that improvements had been made to the farm and that no animals had been subjected to deliberate cruelty. However, the prosecution, led by Kevin Hill, presented evidence of ongoing neglect, including emaciated sheep lacking quality feed, cattle in poor condition with no shelter or proper hay, and poultry confined in poorly ventilated sheds.

The court was also informed that the Read family had previous convictions for similar offenses in 2019 and 2020, which violated a suspended sentence previously imposed. Judge Simon Carr described the cruelty as deliberate and carried out within a commercial context, justifying the 19-week custodial sentence as appropriate and non-appealable. Additionally, a disqualification order was issued, prohibiting the Read family from keeping farm animals for ten years. This order was temporarily suspended for 28 days to allow for the disposal of remaining animals, ensuring they would not be subjected to further neglect.

The case has garnered significant attention from local media outlets such as the Falmouth Packet and ITV News, highlighting the ongoing issues of animal welfare and the importance of strict enforcement of animal protection laws in Cornwall and beyond.