Chicken ban for farmer over illegal slaughtering

Frank Clay, of Sunny Bank Farm, Royd Lane, Ripponden, near Halifax, was disqualified from owning, keeping and transporting poultry for five years and also given a three-month curfew order by Halifax magistrates.

He pleaded guilty to four charges including:

n Assisting in the slaughter of chickens that were not stunned and thus causing unnecessary suffering.

n Failing to comply with the community regulations relating to food hygiene by not providing an adequate supply of clean water in the food production area so that food was not contaminated.

n Failing to comply with the community regulations relating to food hygiene in that he did not ensure that the premises were kept clean and maintained in good repair.

Mark Thompson, Calderdale Council's head of housing and environment, said: "This case has taken some time to reach this successful conclusion.

"The case was taken due to the risk that illegal slaughter poses to the community at large.

"Mr Clay should have taken the direction given by officers and the courts previously that using the farm yard as a slaughter hall was not acceptable."