A JUDGE has shown compassion to a slaughterhouse owner when sentencing him for causing suffering to animals and leaving rotting carcasses at his premises due to the farmer’s serious mental breakdown.

Ian Lancaster, 51, from Carthorpe, near Bedale in North Yorkshire, appeared at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Tuesday, May 19) to be sentenced by District Judge Adrian Lower for 20 counts relating to animal cruelty and contravening health regulations.

Judge Lower banned Mr Lancaster from owning livestock and managing a food business for 20 years and gave him a three year conditional discharge – something he conceded could be seen as “somewhat lenient” by some.

Although four counts relating to the unnecessary suffering of animals; failing to comply with by-product regulations for manure; food hygiene regulations; and general food regulations were dismissed, Mr Lancaster faced a further 16 charges of a similar nature.

Sam Faulks, prosecuting, said animals had to be put down because of their injuries and ill-health, and that the farm was in a filthy state.

“Trading Standards and Hambleton District Council conducted investigations and Mr Lancaster’s farm was raided on May 7, 2013.

“Animals had to be put down after being found up to their legs in faeces, with no water or dry areas.”

He said the authority inspectors described various farm buildings as in a “foul” condition with dead and living animals together.

He added: “Most of the surfaces were filthy and contained a lot of meat, offal, and other animal by-products.”

Simon Walker, mitigating, said: “Mr Lancaster suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of the raid on his farm and had to be hospitalised for two months.

“He has held contracts with Defra to hold livestock and he took on too much at the time of the late and bad winter of 2013, and he became the go-to person in the area because of his class of slaughter man – but he accepts that things got on top of him.”

Mr Lancaster, who was described by Mr Walker as having “catastrophic debt”, is now working part time at Bowood Yorkshire Lamb slaughterhouse, near Thirsk, as a sales manager.

Judge Lower said: “What strikes me is that you are a caring man who wants to do his best to help, but in doing that you took on far too much.

“It was your responsibility to look after the animals but you failed spectacularly – but I have to take into account the effect this has had on your health, and you are not a well man."

The judge also ordered Mr Lancaster to pay costs of £500 each to Trading Standards and Hambleton District Council.