As of March this year, a number of people have appeared in Cornwall's courts as a result of their mistreatment of animals.

From people who mistreat their pets, to livestock owners providing inadequate levels of care for the animals that help them make a living, here are five cases of offences against animals that landed the perpetrators in Cornish courts.

1. Helen Jane Medland, aged 39, from Queen Elizabeth Road, Launceston: Pleaded guilty to and was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to protected animal, namely a pony called Sony, as well as not taking the necessary steps to ensure that the needs of an animal she was responsible for were met.

Medland was handed down a 12 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £128 and costs of £500.

An order was also made for her to be barred from owning, dealing in or keeping animals for life.

Medland appeared in court on June 3 2021.

2. Simon Phillip Stansfield, aged 63, from Upton Cross, Liskeard: Pleaded guilty to and was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a calf, by not providing prompt, effective veterinary care as well as not providing water for the calf.

Stansfield was also charged with failure to comply with regulation five of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) 2007 Regulations after calves were not provided with enough food or water.

Stansfield was ordered to pay a fine of £1,150, a surcharge of £115 and costs of £5,561.50.

An order was also made to ban him from owning, keeping or being responsible for animals for life.

Stansfield appeared in court June 8 2021.

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3. Barry John Rowe, aged 70, from Little Beside, St Day, Redruth: Despite pleading not guilty, Rowe was found guilty of being an unlicensed dog breeder and causing unnecessary suffering to a cockerpoo named Bailey by failing to seek veterinary treatment.

He was also found guilty of failing to provide dogs with a suitable environment that was sanitary.

Rowe was committed to prison for 18 weeks suspended for 2 years.

He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £122 and costs of £9,336 and an order was made to bar him from keeping, owning or dealing with dogs for a period of ten years.

Rowe was sentenced on April 20 2021.

4. Christopher Jesper, aged 49, from Pydar Street, Truro: Pleaded guilty to and was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, namely a white husky by slapping it several times.

Jesper was ordered to pay a fine of £40, a surcharge of £95 and costs of £85. 

Jesper was also barred from keeping a dog for a period of two years.

Jesper was sentenced on March 5 2021.

5. Jago Matthew Lethbridge, aged 23, from Ferndale Street, Faringdon, Oxfordshire: Pleaded guilty to and was charged with stealing two chickens from a farm in St Marys on the Isles of Scilly as well as causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a chicken, by breaking its neck and killing it.

Lethbridge was committed to prison for 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to be under curfew for four months via electronic monitoring.

Lethbridge was also ordered to pay compensation of £171.20, a surcharge of £128 and cost of £85. 

Lethbridge was sentenced March 4 2021.