Farmer must show he cares for sheep

A SHETLAND farmer has been given three months to prove that he is fit to look after animals after appearing before Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Laurence Johnson, of Windhouse Farm, on the island of Yell, pled guilty to charges of causing unnecessary harm to nine Shetland sheep and one Shetland ram by failing to provide feeding and veterinary care on 12 January this year.

He was also charged with not complying with EU animal husbandry rules.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan told the court that his 52 year old client was frightened of being disqualified from keeping animals, and asked for time so that Johnson could demonstrate that he was fit to look after his 2,000 or so sheep.

Sheriff Philipp Mann deferred sentence until 20 October to prove that despite the charges Johnson was capable of looking after his animals to a high husbandry status.