COURT FINDS DAVID AND EVAN MEIRION DAVIES GUILTY OF HORRIFIC ANIMAL WELFARE OFFENCES IN LLANDYSUL

In 2019, brothers David Davies, born in 1956, and Evan Meirion Davies, born in 1969, both residents of Penffynnon Farm in Bangor Teifi, Llandysul SA44 4HX, were convicted of numerous cases of severe cruelty to cattle under their care.

The conditions at their farm were found to be appalling, with cattle kept in environments lacking sufficient food, water, and dry lying areas. Both brothers admitted to 13 charges related to animal cruelty.

The case arose after an inspection by animal health officers and a vet from the Animal and Plant Health Agency in April 2018. During this visit, 58 carcasses in various stages of decay were discovered in the sheds and surrounding fields. The remaining cattle were kept in similarly dire conditions, with neglect evident.

The vet confirmed that the cattle were suffering unnecessarily and stated that the dead cattle likely succumbed due to the neglectful conditions. During the visit, the vet had to euthanise two cattle to halt further suffering.

Ceredigion County Council's animal health team described this as the most severe case of animal welfare neglect they had encountered to date.

At their sentencing, magistrates recognized the evidence of extreme suffering, inadequate care, and poor animal husbandry demonstrated by the defendants. Cllr Gareth Lloyd, the Cabinet member responsible for public protection, commented: “This was a truly shocking case of neglect that caused terrible suffering to so many animals. We will not hesitate to act decisively whenever we need to protect animal welfare.”

He added: “This was an extreme case, and in no way reflects on the dedication of the overwhelming majority of Ceredigion farmers in maintaining the highest standards of care for their animals.”

The court sentenced the brothers to 16 weeks of imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. They were also ordered to pay costs of £1,500 each to the council and disqualified from keeping any animals for five years, with the disqualification ending in February 2024.

In December 2019, reports indicated that the Davies brothers lost their appeal against the animal keeping ban. Despite pleading guilty earlier in the same year, they attempted to delay the proceedings through multiple adjournments—seven in total—before their eighth attempt was denied. The crown court judge, describing the case as “truly disturbing,” upheld the original sentence.

Ceredigion Council expressed frustration over the delays but remained confident the ban would not be overturned. On December 2, 2019, both brothers appeared at Swansea Crown Court where their sentences were confirmed. They were ordered to pay additional costs to Ceredigion Council, totaling £420, on top of the previous £3,000 paid in February.

Further legal action ensued in March 2020, when David and Evan Davies were sentenced to 24 weeks in prison for breaching their court-ordered disqualification from keeping animals. The judge partially activated their previously suspended sentences, convicting them of violating the order.

Prosecutor Maggie Hughes from Ceredigion council explained that the brothers’ disqualification was imposed in February 2019 after their neglect led to the death of 58 cows. Though the disqualification had been suspended during their appeal, it was upheld in December 2019, and they were instructed to dispose of the cattle by that time.

The brothers denied selling the cattle to their brother, claiming they had transferred ownership to him, who farms in Carmarthenshire and was renting their farm. However, Judge Parsons dismissed this, stating there was no evidence and calling their explanation “a serious breach” and “a fiction” meant to bypass the court's authority.

Following their jail sentences, the judge ordered each brother to pay £425 toward prosecution costs and a surcharge of £122. Commenting on the case, Cllr Gareth Lloyd said, “Both brothers have persistently disregarded a court order banning them from keeping animals. The scenes witnessed by council staff, vets, police officers and contractors were horrific.”