A farmer with 60 years’ experience was passionate and caring, despite leaving some of his animals in filthy conditions when ill health left him unable to, a court has heard.

But Lawson Reginald Chaplin, 79, of Carn View Farm, Mount Hawke, had caused “enormous” suffering to some of his sheep and pigs after choosing to look after them rather than go into hospital, and was eventually prosecuted after a three year county council investigation during which he failed to take animal welfare advice he was given.

District judge Diana Baker, sitting at Truro Magistrates’ Court, told him that because of the suffering to so many animals, and because despite saying things would get better he had not taken that advice, his case had passed the custody threshold.

Prosecutor Kevin Hill said it was in 2013 that animal welfare officers first became aware of Chaplin’s neglect.

Animals were found without clean water, some in filthy conditions: pigs knee deep in mud, one sheep with maggots, a red raw body part, significant pain where its foot had been too harshly clipped, and foot rot. Pigs were shivering with cold, one with a lemon-sized blister, and others itching with mange.

One of the sheep had been found in a trailer, needing veterinary attention for its feet, and for some pigs the only dry area in their field was a caravan with a collapsed floor. One pig was found to be dead.

Chaplin pleaded guilty to failing to ensure good animal welfare for sheep and pigs; causing unnecessary suffering to one sheep; and failing to comply with an animal by-product requirement concerning the dead pig.

His solicitor Lucy Bryant said Chaplin was very caring, and tried to do what he could on the farm, within his limitations. His vet had been complimentary about him, and other animals on the farm had been tended properly.

Chaplin had had two strokes during the period in question, had prostate cancer and had lost sight in each eye. He was currently due for hospital treatment.

“He has a passion for farming and has done it very well for many years. When having to get rid of his animals was discussed he said:’What will I do?’ This has been a big shock for him.”

He was given a six week prison sentence suspended for 24 months, disqualified from keeping livestock, other than a cat or dog, and told not to participate in any farming of animals.

He was given 28 days in which to remove all his animals from the six acre farm, or council officers would seize and dispose of them at his own cost. He had to pay £4,907.33 costs at the rate of £90 a month.

The judge took into account the many years Chaplin had farmed and no doubt done a good job, and said: “You have had terrible ill health and have tried very hard, and fighting a lot of things most people would not be able to cope with; have put off going to hospital to try and sort out your animals; and you tried to do things, but were not able to.”

She told him: “Get yourself into hospital, and get rid of these animals”.