A FORMER farmer has been ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work after breaching a lifetime ban on keeping cattle.

The ban was imposed two years ago after John Kilford admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals on his land in Cadnam Lane, Cadnam.

New Forest magistrates were told that emaciated cows and dehydrated pigs were found on the three-acre smallholding in April 2006.

Animal health inspector John Pullen said he discovered two pigs living in accommodation that was poorly ventilated, which meant they had to endure the stench of ammonia fumes.

Yesterday Kilford, 64, returned to the same court and admitted three offences of breaching the ban.

Gary Lucie, prosecuting on behalf of Hampshire County Council’s trading standards department, said Kilford was seen feeding cattle on three separate occasions in May last year.

Mr Lucie said the defendant was arrested on June 17 and taken to Lyndhurst police station, where he refused to answer any questions.

Instead, the court heard, he handed over a prepared statement in which he said the animals were not registered in his name.

Mr Lucie added: “Ownership and responsibility is irrelevant. All that matters is whether he had custody of the animals.

“There is no evidence that they were being caused unnecessary suffering on this occasion but he was still in breach of the order.”

Robert Forrest, in mitigation, cited what he described as confusing legal advice the defendant had received from his previous solicitor following his conviction.

“On the face of it he was complying with what he’d been told and what he thought was correct,” said Mr Forrest.