Farmer fined for starving cows

Starving and dead cattle were found on the farm

A Gloucestershire farmer has been fined after he let 25 cows on his farm starve after appearing before magistrates.

Francis Beavis, 61, who farms near Cheltenham, was ordered to pay more than £7,000 in fines and costs.

Trading standards officers, who were called to the farm at Oxenton near Bishop's Cleeve in April 2001, found the cows emaciated and starving.

They also found a waterlogged hole filled with the carcasses of dead animals.

Two cows had to be destroyed on the spot because they were too ill to move.

Mr Beavis and his wife were convicted of nine offences in total.

They were fined £4,750 and ordered to pay £2,500 pounds in costs