Court orders farmer to cut cattle numbers

A farmer has been ordered to reduce his herd number after leaving his cattle without water.

John Cockerill was told to cut his 62 head heard by 10 after admitting five animal welfare charges on a smallholding at Rosedale Abbey, North Yorkshire.

He admitted to failing to provide adequate water supplies for the cattle, which he kept on the four-acre smallholding.

The offences were committed between June 1 and July 1, when officers from North Yorkshire Trading Standards visited the herd.

Mr Cockerill was also handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence, 80 hours of community service and ordered to pay costs of £1493 by Scarborough magistrates.