A BROTHER and sister, banned from keeping cattle and sheep after their conviction on 21 charges brought by the RSPCA two years ago, were found guilty of another six yesterday.

Dorothy Margaret Tinkler, 57, and William Leonard Tinkler, 58, who share a home at Village Farm, Faceby, North Yorkshire, denied nine joint offences of cruelty or neglect of their livestock.

After a two-day hearing at Richmond Magistrates' Court, they were each cleared of three charges of neglect.

However, they were convicted of the remaining offences, including four of causing unnecessary suffering to cattle, one of failing to abide by instructions given by the RSPCA to improve their animals' living conditions and another of failing to ensure they had access to and an understanding of codes of conduct relating to the care of livestock.

Both also admitted three charges of defying a ban issued in January, 2001, forbidding them from keeping cattle for a period of five years.

Magistrates agreed they would adjourn sentence for pre-sentence reports.

However, the Tinklers were warned they could be facing prison - particularly if they took no action to sell cattle and sheep kept either at Village Farm or at Goul- ton Holme Farm, Faceby, which they also own.

In their defence, solicitor, Patrick Till, told the court the condition of the animals in question could not have been so severe as they were sold at auction for a reasonable price a fortnight after the RSPCA visit.

However, the Bench decided there was no proof the animals which went to mart at Stokesley were the same ones condemned as "chronically undernourished" by vet, Leonard Metcalfe, called by the RSPCA.

The case was adjourned for sentence until Friday, April 4.

The Tinklers were remanded on unconditional bail but were given until then to dispose of any remaining cattle and sheep on their land.