A farmer from Driffield has been found guilty of allowing the tails of three puppies to be docked illegally.

Mark Chambers, 25, had denied failing to prevent the procedure being carried out on his young Jack Russell's, claiming that the dogs' mother had chewed them off.

But Chambers, of Rotsea Carr Farm in Hutton Cranswick, near Driffield, was convicted following a four-day trial.

Beverley Magistrates' Court was told the tails had been neatly shortened by seven to eight centimetres.

Expert evidence from veterinary surgeons given to the hearing said that Chambers's explanation was "highly improbable".

Chambers's vet had contacted the RSPCA when he discovered there were no records of the dogs being operated on.

Inspectors attended the farm on November 1, 2007 and discovered the pups' mother Smut with young Jess, who was taken into RSPCA care.

Two puppies Zac and Oliver had been sold to new owners aged eight weeks, neither of which had been given the appropriate certificates.

During the trial, the defendant said his father had told him Smut had attacked the pups and that a fourth pup had been mutilated and died.

Chambers was fined £250 and ordered to pay £350 towards costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

He was allowed to keep his current dogs but an order was made to prevent Jess from being returned to the farm.

Update 2/26/10:  A farming couple who sell meat at markets across East Yorkshire kept their animals in appalling medieval conditions.

Inspectors found shocking scenes of suffering and filthy food premises at Rotsea Carr Farm in Hutton Cranswick, near Driffield.

Starved and dying sheep and cattle lay among piles of rotting carcasses at the business owned by Colin and Katherine Chambers.

The pair, who sell meat through The Black Sheep Meat Company, have been banned from keeping farm animals for five years and fined £21,000.

The Chambers are best known for organizing the monthly Humber Bridge Farmers' Market, which attracts around 5,000 visitors.

They are also regular stall holders at markets across the region, including at Princes Quay in Hull city centre and Beverley.

The couple's son, Mark Chambers, 25, who lives and works at the farm, was convicted of nine offences at a three-day trial.

Trading standards inspectors discovered dried blood, dirt, dust, feathers, wings and beak tips left to accumulate where food was handled.

Urine and dog faeces were smeared on the floor of the plucking room where there were also "signs of rodent activity".

District Judge Earl said the public would have eventually been harmed.

He told the defendants: "I have given serious thought as to whether it would be appropriate to put you out of business completely. I also have to consider the public interest and public safety.

"Nothing heard indicates the public has already been harmed, but that does not mean that they might not have been in future. Had it continued along the downward spiral, that is what might be expected."

Tom Spencer, prosecuting for East Riding Council, told Beverley Magistrates' Court: "Food safety officers described the premises as positively medieval.

"They had never come across a food premises that appalling."

The horrifying conditions were uncovered during an inspection in November 2008 following a complaint.

An estimated 70 carcasses of sheep, goats, calves and cows were found over the following three months at the farm and in field at the back of the Bosville Arms pub in Rudston, Driffield.

Four of the worst suffering animals at Rotsea – two sheep and two cows – were humanely killed on the spot.

During one visit a starving lamb was found.

The court heard how the Chambers' business racked up debts of almost £1m.

Patricia Walker, defending, claimed as a result of falling milk prices and the 2007 summer floods, Chambers, 50, was too depressed to go near his animals.

She said: "Mr Chambers has been farming for 50 years. Their dream turned into a living nightmare."

He pleaded guilty to 12 charges relating to animal welfare, food hygiene and failing to dispose of carcasses.

His wife, 48, pleaded guilty to 14 similar offences.

In addition to the fine and ban, both were given a two-year conditional discharge for each animal welfare offence, to run concurrently.

The couple's son was given a two-year conditional discharge after being found guilty of eight offences of failing to dispose of carcasses.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to remove of a dead sheep found at Easingwold Farm, Watton Carr, the lease for which is registered in his name.

Paul Abbott, acting head of public protection at the council, said: "This prosecution shows how seriously this council and its partner agencies take these crimes."

Through a statement, Chambers stated, "I am delighted that the court has understood that my ill health over a number of years has contributed to the difficulties with my farm.  "My family and I are to determined turn the farm around and to continue to maintain and improve the level of service to our customers."

Reference: