A WIGTON farmer has been fined after a Trading Standards investigation found he had failed to properly dispose of animal carcasses.

John Richardson Armstrong of Raby Cote, Kirkbride, near Wigton, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday after an investigation from Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards service.

The investigation discovered that Armstrong had not disposed of dead cattle and sheep quickly enough to satisfy Animal By-Product Regulations.

Armstrong pleaded guilty to a failure to comply with notices served to him between February 23 and April 20 last year, requiring him to get rid of a number of cattle and sheep carcasses, as well as 12 newborn calves.

Magistrates also found Armstrong guilty of failing to dispose of a number of animal carcasses before these notices were served.

Armstrong was fined £560, and ordered to pay £200 towards the cost of prosecution.

Celia Tibble, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, said: “The animal by-product regulations are in place to try and prevent the spread of disease by ensuring that farmers dispose of dead carcases in the correct manner and without unnecessary delay.

“Cumbria Trading Standards service works with the farming community to help them meet their legal duties and responsibilities.

“Any person who has disregard for animal health and welfare legislation will be investigated and we will take legal action if necessary.”

In addition, magistrates found the partnership of W.J and J Armstrong guilty of supplying a Cumbria Trading Standards inspector with false or misleading information, in March 2018.

The partnership also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a notice restricting the movement of cattle off Raby Cote farm, and pleaded guilty for not registering a birth between January and March 2018.

There was a further guilty plea for failure to record birth and ear tags in a register between February 2015 and February 2017.

W.J and J Armstrong were given a conditional discharge for 12 months on all offences to run concurrently and ordered to pay a victim surcharge and £800 towards prosecution costs.