Pig farmer has convictions quashed

Pig farmer has convictions quashed

Animal movements were restricted during the foot-and-mouth crisis

A County Durham pig farmer, found guilty of failing to record the movements of his animals during the foot-and-mouth crisis, has had his convictions quashed by a High Court judge.

Alan Clement, 59, of Crook, was convicted at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court in May 2002 of a number of offences allegedly committed in December 2000 and April 2001.

Mr Clement stood accused of shipping 11 animals from two piggeries to an abattoir in nearby Witton-le-Wear, without recording their movements.

He was also accused of allegedly refusing to produce the records the following April.

At the time, magistrates ruled that Mr Clement, who has always protested his innocence, was the owner of the pigs after they were shown forms relating to the animals that were said to bear his signature.

Send case back

Mr Clement refused to give evidence at the magistrates hearing and the bench decided there was sufficient evidence against him.

But Mr Justice Silber, sitting at the High Court in London, said the magistrates had misdirected themselves on issues of law and could not have been sure the signature was that of Mr Clement.

He said they "were not entitled" to find Mr Clement was the owner of the livestock, and directed all convictions quashed.

He said the Crown may decide to send the case back to magistrates for a re-hearing.

The case arose out of documents which accompany pigs on their journey from farm to abattoir.

Mr Clement was accused of failing to produce the records when asked to do so by Durham County Council's trading standards department on 11 April, 2001.