A NORTH Tawton farmer was given a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to two offences of moving sheep while his farm was under movement restrictions.
Eric Henry Dennis, of Weekmeadow Farm, North Tawton, was charged with moving sheep from the farm to sell at Exeter Market on February 10, while his farm was under a 20-day standstill period, and on March 10, when the farm was under a six-day standstill period.
Mr Dennis, 38, defending himself before Okehampton Magistrates Court on Thursday, told the court: ?It was a genuine error on my part. I did not know it was not a dedicated slaughter market.?
Ernest Garner, prosecuting, said the facts of the case were not in dispute, the matter rested on Mr Dennis? understanding of the difference between a slaughter market and a dedicated slaughter market.
Mr Dennis said he fully understood the movement restrictions which had been introduced as a precaution following the foot and mouth crisis, but he had made a genuine mistake regarding the type of market he was attending.
Mr Dennis, who has 500 sheep and 200 beef cattle, said he had not lost any livestock during the foot and mouth outbreak.
He told the court business was ?not very good? and the farm had not made a profit in the last three years. However, he believed sheep prices were beginning to recover.
?The market for sheep did go down for about 16 months, but it is edging up again now,? he said.
Mr Dennis said he sold most of his stock directly to an abattoir, however, he did occasionally attend markets in the area, as he liked to try and support the markets where he could.
Magistrates acknowledged Mr Dennis was of previous good character and granted him a conditional discharge for three months. He was ordered to pay costs of £175.