Farmer fined £11,000 for movement and TB testing breaches
© Tim Scrivener A farmer has been ordered to pay almost £11,000 after being prosecuted for serious breaches of cattle movement and bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing regulations.
John Andrew Hawley, who traded as Leicestershire Livestock from Six Hills Farm in Melton Mowbray, pleaded guilty to three offences at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 4 February 2026.
The offences related to breaches of the Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 and the Tuberculosis in Animals (England) Order 2021.
See also: Bovine TB: 2038 eradication goal achievable with bold action
Mr Hawley was fined £3,999 and ordered to pay a £1,600 victim surcharge and £5,300 in prosecution costs, bringing the total to £10,899.
The court heard that between January and May 2025, Mr Hawley failed to notify the British Cattle Movement Service on time – or at all – of the majority of cattle movements on and off his farm.
About 85% of cattle moved off the holding, and 79% moved onto it, were reported late or not reported. In one instance, 55 cattle entered the food chain without any notification being made.
Accurate and timely reporting is essential to maintain traceability and protect public confidence in the meat supply.
Further breaches concerned TB controls. After the Animal and Plant Health Agency required a whole-herd TB test, Mr Hawley failed to complete it within the specified timeframe.
As a result, the farm lost its officially TB-free status and was placed under movement restrictions. Despite this, cattle were unlawfully moved on and off the holding.
Mart buyer
The court heard that Mr Hawley had been farming for more than 50 years before his recent retirement.
His farm specialised in “purchasing cattle from marts and farms across the UK, fattening them and sending them to slaughter”.
When interviewed, Mr Hawley blamed an injury, administrative delays and paperwork difficulties for his failure to comply with the law, and stated that he sends between 3,000 and 4,000 cattle to slaughter each year.
The case was brought by Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards.
Speaking after the case, head of regulatory services Gary Connors emphasised that strict cattle traceability and TB testing are vital to safeguarding animal health, public health and the rural economy.