Distressing animal neglect case saw parched sheep and rotting bodies

Outside Swindon Crown Court
-Credit:Google


A shocking case of animal neglect was uncovered by inspectors where livestock was in such a horrific condition they had to be put down. There were also rotting carcasses, parched animals left without water in Wiltshire.

On Monday, January 20, Daniel Hayward, 33, of Bratton, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court after pleading guilty to multiple animal welfare offences. Hayward received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was banned from keeping all animals except cattle, cats, and dogs for five years.

Additionally, he must complete 250 hours of unpaid work, pay £3,600 in costs, and a victim surcharge. An investigation by Wiltshire Council led to Hayward facing 21 charges related to the mistreatment of sheep, failures in livestock record-keeping, and the improper storage of carcasses.

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The offences occurred between April 2023 and February 2024. The case unfolded in April 2023 when Wiltshire Council’s Animal Health and Welfare team visited land in Great Cheverell and discovered approximately 30 sheep, including ewes with young lambs, deprived of drinking water.

Subsequent visits uncovered multiple decaying sheep carcasses inside and around buildings used by Hayward. Further inspections by the council’s animal health officers, alongside veterinarians from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), found six sheep in such poor condition that they had to be euthanized immediately. Others required urgent veterinary treatment.

Even while under investigation, Hayward continued to improperly store sheep carcasses, allowing other animals and birds access to the remains, with the stench of decay becoming a nuisance to the local community. His neglect persisted, leading to further visits by officers and an APHA vet, who found five more sheep in such distress that they, too, had to be euthanized.

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Beyond the mistreatment of animals, Hayward failed to comply with legal requirements for recording and reporting sheep movements—procedures crucial for tracking livestock and preventing disease outbreaks. He also neglected to notify the Secretary of State that he was keeping sheep on land at Worton and Great Cheverell and failed to provide authorities with necessary animal movement and medicine records.

Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Environment, praised the investigative efforts, stating, “I want to thank our dedicated team of Animal Health and Welfare officers who do all that they can to enforce legislation designed to help protect animal health and welfare across Wiltshire.

“This shocking case shows that we will use our powers to prosecute those who are found to be neglecting or acting cruelly towards livestock in our county. It also highlights the importance of record keeping, with the details being used when necessary to help prevent and contain disease.

“If anyone has concerns related to the health and welfare of livestock, they can contact the animal health team on 0300 456 0100.”