A farmer who owes more than £3,700 for past animal offences has been in court again for the treatment of his livestock.

Hayden Fortune, 49, of Pyethornes Farm, in Wigglesworth, which is between Settle and Skipton, North Yorkshire was sentenced for three offences at York Magistrates’ Court last Friday.

These are: two counts of duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare and failing to comply with an animal by-product requirement.

He pleaded guilty to the three offences on August 20 at the same court.

Four counts of failing to comply with an animal by-product requirement, one count of duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare, and another of being a person responsible for farmed animals who failed to take reasonable steps to ensure conditions complied with regulations were withdrawn on the same date.

One of the offences he admitted relates to the conditions 57 bovine animals were living in between January 13 and March 22 last year.

Court records show that the issues picked out included the level of slurry covering the cattle’s hooves and that they were “exposed to constant contamination”, which was being transferred into the cubicles.

The animals also experienced difficulty in moving as the floor was uneven.

This amounted to Fortune not taking reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of 57 bovine animals were met to the extent required by good practice, according to court records.

Meanwhile, Fortune also failed to take the right steps for 11 adult pigs and six piglets on March 14 last year.

Court records show they did not have “adequate accommodation and food”.

They added: “The pen accessed by a sow and piglets contained bedding and manure so high that the animals had to climb in a place considered hazardous for the presence of wood and metal scraps.”

The by-product offence related to a four-month period last year, between April 5 and August 14.

Fortune failed to collect, identify, and transport a mound of manure contaminated with pig remains without undue delay under conditions which prevent risks arising to the public and animal health, according to court records.

Last April, Fortune received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for a number of other animal offences.

He was also ordered to pay £4,000 in total, which included £3,000 in compensation to North Yorkshire Council in respect of costs it incurred for the disposal of animal by-products, and £1,000 toward costs.

This time around, Fortune received a 12-month conditional discharge.

He was ordered to pay a £26 surcharge to fund victim services.

The court did not make a compensation order because Fortune still owes more than £3,700 for the case sentenced in April, according to court records.