A PART-TIME farmer who abandoned his sheep in blistering heat in a paddock has been banned from keeping animals for four years.

When the RSPCA arrived at Ridgeway Farm, near Purton, on August 5 last year, two of the flock were already dead and nearby railway workers said they had taken it upon themselves give water to some of the weaker lambs out of plastic bottles.

Two ewes and a lamb had to be euthanised immediately due to the severity of blowfly strike, as flies festered in open wounds.

Leigh Ballard, 21, admitted four charges at Swindon Magistrates Court, including causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the welfare of his animals.

Ballard said he had left for Devon on August 1 in his capacity as a van driver and left his brother, Dennis, to care for the flock.

His brother, 24-year-old Dennis, of Common Platt, denied one count of causing unnecessary suffering and no evidence was filed against him.

Tanya James, prosecuting, told the court: “Environmental health officers used their powers of entry and noticed a number of deceased sheep with poor body condition with a large number of flies and maggots in the carcasses.

“There were several sheep found in this condition.

“The officers spoke to some of the workforce on the railway, who confirmed they had rarely seen anyone in attendance at the paddock.

One had to provide water from a bottle as their water had run dry.

“When Leigh Ballard arrived at the field he stated he was unsure what had happened and that the sheep were checked daily.

While waiting for the vet they began to corral the sheep and clear up the carcasses.

“The lamb was found to be red raw all around its tail with live maggots on it and the vet advised it should be euthanised on humane grounds. The next sheep examined was found to be lethargic and had a large area of crusted skin around a quarter of it’s body on one side, and a quarter of that was covered with flystrike.

“Leigh Ballard signed over the sheep on the understanding it would be euthanised to avoid unnecessary delay while waiting for the police.

“The RSPCA inspector noted that several of the sheep were biting themselves. The railway workers also had to get the sheep back into the field as they were worried they would wander onto the railway line.”

Vet reports suggested most of the sheep would have been suffering severely for two days.

Wayne Hardy, defending, said: “Mr Ballard is a hobbyist farmer.

“His family are trustees of the land and he has been dipping in and out of the business.

“He does accept he should have done more to look after the animals.

“He does this on a part-time basis because he works as a van driver.

“The vet’s recommendations were fully carried out, and the sheep that survived fully recovered.

with no further problems at all. The animals he has, including sheep, goats and pigs, are used for breed purposes and show purposes.”

Ballard, of Box Bush Lodge, was given a 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work, banned from keeping any animal for four years, and made to pay £1,000 in RSPCA costs and a £60 victim surcharge.