Banned man denies animal charges

Magistrates were told Walford Rogers was already subject to a ban

A man already banned from keeping animals for five years is on trial charged with causing suffering to 63 dogs and 42 ferrets.

Walford Rogers, 75, of Cwmbran, Torfaen, denies failing to provide the 105 animals on his land with food, water and adequate shelter.

Cwmbran magistrates were told they were found in "filthy conditions".

He pleads not guilty to six charges of unnecessary suffering and one breach of a ban.

The court heard how in August 2006 RSPCA inspectors visited his land and discovered the animals being kept in 42 pens, cages and hutches.

Martyn Prowel, prosecuting, said: "There were filthy conditions in which the animals were housed. There was inadequate ventilation and insufficient shelter.

He was fully aware of the terms of his disqualification but he continued to keep dogs Prosecutor Martyn Prowel

"The animals were kept in an environment so bad as to affect the animals and cause unnecessary suffering.

"The person responsible failed to provide the minimum standard of care. The prosecution say the defendant was responsible for all these animals

"He was the only person in the property. It was his land and the animals lived on land surrounding the mobile home he lived in.

'Quite incredible'

"He was fully aware of the terms of his disqualification but he continued to keep dogs," he added.

Magistrates were shown videos of the conditions the dogs were found in.

RSPCA inspector Nicola Johnson said many of the dogs and ferrets had no water and they were fed "swill" made from restaurant scraps of chips, rice, oranges and glace cherries.

She described the noise and the smell as "quite incredible".

Some pens were atrocious, some were bad, but all those animals were suffering Vet Mark Evans

Huw Davies defending, told the court that his case was that the defendant "was not responsible for these animals".

Mr Davies produced a document drawn up in 2005 which said the animals were under "care, control and custody" of a man called Colin Richard Clayton.

"Do you accept some large estate owners lease their land to tenant farmers?", Mr Davies asked RSPCA inspector Danielle Baber.

"Do you accept that some land owners allow kennels on their land?," he added.

The inspector replied: "Yes but if there is an issue of concern?"

"But it wouldn't make the landowner criminally liable, would it?" Mr Davies stated.

When asked by Mr Prowel whether she had come across Mr Clayton, she said she had not.

The court was told the defendant had not mentioned Mr Clayton during interviews.

Vet Mark Evans told the court what he saw on the day the animals were seized.

"In my opinion, some animals were suffering more than others at the premises," he said.

"Some pens were atrocious, some were bad, but all those animals were suffering."

He described each of the 43 pens in detail, giving accounts of poor hygiene, poor bedding and inadequate ventilation with a lack of food and water.

The trial continues.