Barry man banned from keeping animals after admitting neglecting chickens (From Barry And District News)

Barry man banned from keeping animals after admitting neglecting chickens

12:10pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By Sharon Harris

A BARRY man has been banned from keeping all animals for seven years, after he admitted neglecting the welfare of 27 chickens.

20-year-old Joshua Zinzan Jenkins, of Vere Street, pleaded guilty to four counts of animal cruelty when he appeared at Cardiff and Vale Magistrates Court on December 17; and on Monday (January 7) he was given a 12-month community order with supervision.

District Judge Bodfan Jenkins ordered the former Cardiff Blues trainee to pay £600 costs and also placed him under a 19-night tagged curfew.

The court heard that RSPCA officers had visited Swn y Mor stables in Glan y Mor Lane, Wick, in February and March last year, and discovered more than 40 chickens kept in inadequate conditions and in varying degrees of neglect.

Ten dead birds were removed and a number with respiratory disease had to be put to sleep on veterinary advice. Jenkins, who was 19 at the time, met the RSPCA at the property and admitted looking after the chickens.

Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Martyn Prowel said: "The physical deterioration (of the chickens) would have taken several days and would have caused significant distress to the birds over a period of 48 hours."

In mitigation for Jenkins, Adam Sharp said his client was illiterate and had learning difficulties.

RSPCA inspector Christine McNeil said afterwards: "This case is part of a wide-ranging action against a number of defendants.

"We are pleased with the sentence handed down as it demonstrates that the courts will not tolerate neglect and cruelty against animals."