Salisbury farmers sentenced following mistreatment of cattle

Two farmers from Orcheston, near Salisbury were sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates Court yesterday, (Thursday 24 April) after previously being found guilty of animal welfare offences and breaching a disqualification order.

Michael Babey (69) was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years. He was ordered to pay costs of £5,000 and a victim surcharge of £154. Julia Babey (52) was sentenced to a 12-month community order, fined £100 and must pay a victim surcharge of £114 plus £200 costs. Both have also been disqualified from keeping all animals except cats, dogs and cockatiels for 10 years.

Both were found guilty of the charges in March this year, with Mrs Babey previously pleading guilty in May 2024 to animal welfare offences and aiding and abetting Mr Babey in breaching his disqualification order.

All the charges relate to cattle kept on land at Tanners Lane in Shrewton.

Mr Babey was disqualified from keeping cattle and cows for five years in 2019 to prevent the risk of suffering to his animals. He had also previously been disqualified from keeping equines in 2010. Following his disqualifications, his wife became the owner of the cattle. Despite the disqualification orders, officers found that Mr Babey had continued to care for and keep cattle, in breach of the order.

When an animal health officer visited the farm with a vet from the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) in November 2023, they found 24 cattle on the small site. Eleven cattle were being kept in one pen covered in deep slurry/mud.  The pen was found to have insufficient space for all of the cattle to lie down simultaneously and non-compliant with legal requirements. Water provided was highly soiled and not of suitable quality for the animals to drink. 

A subsequent visit later in November found conditions had not improved sufficiently.

In January 2024, the farm was visited again by officers and the APHA vet, where 23 cattle were found to have no access to water. One cow was seen to be licking from an empty water container for five minutes.  There is no water provision at the site and the animals rely on this being brought to the farm in a container. The vet's opinion was that the cattle were being given insufficient amounts of water. 

Parvis Khansari, Corporate Director Place at Wiltshire Council, said: We have a dedicated team of animal health officers at Wiltshire Council who will act quickly to ensure that Wiltshire farmers and livestock owners take good care of their animals.

Mr and Mrs Babey show little regard for the law and for the welfare of their cattle. I hope that the sentencing today sends a strong message that breaking animal welfare law and mistreatment of animals will not be tolerated in Wiltshire.

If anyone has concerns related to the health and welfare of livestock, they can contact the animal health team on 0300 456 0100.