A MAN who runs a North-East smallholding has been banned from keeping livestock for ten years for causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

Michael Jewell, 56, of Limes Crescent, Marske, east Cleveland, was also given a 120-day suspended prison sentence by magistrates at Guisborough yesterday, after admitting two offences under the Protection of animals Act and one offence under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

The court heard Jewell received two visits from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's environmental health officers to his two smallholdings at Lineside and Gashouse allotments last year, following complaints from the RSPCA.

Magistrates were told that, at Lineside, officers found a number of pigs in poor condition. One was emaciated and unable to stand and was later put down by a vet, while another was also emaciated and suffering from a shoulder wound.

On the second visit, inspectors found a sheep hobbling on three legs, with one of its feet infested with maggots. It was later put down.

Jewell was sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to a Charolais sheep, on the first offence under the Protection of Animals Act, and given the same punishment for causing unnecessary suffering to a sow on the second offence under that legislation.

On the third offence, under the Agriculture Act, involving the care of pigs, which had no clean, comfortable bedding, magistrates imposed no separate penalty.

Jewell was also disqualified from keeping agricultural livestock and magistrates ordered him to pay £450 towards the council's costs.

In mitigation, magistrates were told that Jewell was of previous good character, and this had been a harrowing experience for him.

He had left the animals in the care of a stockman, but accepted their welfare was still his responsibility