Herefordshire farmer fined

A 34-year-old Herefordshire farmer has been ordered to pay more than £11,000 for deceiving cattle buyers and risking public health by misdescribing cattle he sold at a market in Ross-on-Wye.

Andrew George Stanley Robbins, of Pool Mill Farm, Bridstow, near Ross-on-Wye, was fined £2,100 and ordered to pay legal costs of £8,875.99 after a trial at Hereford Magistrates’ Court.

He was found guilty of 56 charges of deception under the Cattle Identification Regulations, Cattle Data-Base Regulations, Trade Descriptions Act and Theft Act.

Robbins, who presented his own defence, pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He said his father was responsible for the ownership of the cattle and not himself.

On sentencing, District Judge Bruce Morgan, sitting at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 18, said that accurate records of cattle, including dates of birth, were important to maintain public confidence and the integrity of the food chain.

He said: "Money is the route of all evil. You were in the pursuit of personal financial greed.

“You showed complete contempt for your fellow farmers. This was a deliberate attempt to cheat the system.

“Your defence was one of arrogance. You used a shotgun defence where you tried to blame everyone. To blame your vet was deplorable. You told a pack of lies. "

Herefordshire Council’s Animal Health and Welfare team claimed that Robbins had falsified dates on passport applications for cattle born on his premises, had not applied for passports within the prescribed time-limits, falsely described the ages of the cattle when selling them at Ross Market and obtained money by deception.

The case arose following the sale of eight cattle at Ross Market – six of these cattle were alleged to be four months old, when investigations showed them to be nearer eight months of age. 

Two others alleged to be 17 months were in fact between 21 and 27 months. 

Further enquiries revealed another eight cattle were still on Mr Robbins’ farm, which also had passports alleging them to be approximately five months younger than they actually were. 

The deception may have led to buyers believing that the animals would mature quicker if they were at a ‘strong’ size at only four months old as well as them possibly entering the food chain potentially ‘over thirty months’ of age.

Mike Higgins, Animal Health and Welfare Manager for Herefordshire Council, said: “Where county farmers deliberately disregard the laws designed to protect the human food chain and the integrity of the British beef industry Herefordshire Council will have no hesitation in prosecuting. 

“The judgement in this case fully vindicates this action.  The District Judge praised the work of Herefordshire Council’s Animal Health and Welfare team for their thoroughness in completing such a complex case.  

“This investigation was carried out with the co-operation of the British Cattle Movement Service, the State Veterinary Service and local veterinary practitioners and demonstrates the close working partnerships that exist.”