DAVID HOLMES OF SILSDEN FACES LIFETIME BAN AFTER REPEATED ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES IN KEIGHLEY AND SURROUNDINGS

David Holmes, born on May 13, 1956, and residing at Fairdale, Hen Holme Lane, Silsden, Keighley BD20 0LX, has a long and troubling history of animal cruelty that has culminated in a recent conviction and a lifetime ban from owning or caring for animals. Despite multiple court orders and previous bans, Holmes has repeatedly violated laws designed to protect animals, demonstrating a blatant disregard for their welfare and the legal restrictions imposed upon him.

The latest incident came to light on February 17, 2011, when Bradford Council brought charges against Holmes for breaching a court order that prohibited him from owning animals. The breach was discovered when a Council environmental health officer observed Holmes engaged in muck-spreading on his land in Silsden. This activity was suspicious because Holmes was under a court ban that explicitly forbade him from keeping or handling animals. When questioned, Holmes denied any wrongdoing, but the evidence was sufficient for the case to proceed to trial.

During the trial, District Judge Susan Bouch found Holmes guilty in favor of the Council. The case highlighted Holmes’s persistent defiance of legal restrictions, as he had previously been convicted of cruelty to animals and had multiple bans imposed on him over the years. In March 2011, the case was remitted to magistrates for sentencing, where Holmes was sentenced to six months in prison. Additionally, the court issued a new and more severe disqualification under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which grants authorities greater powers to enforce animal protection laws.

This new ban prevents Holmes from owning or keeping any animals for the next ten years. Furthermore, he is barred from participating in any schemes or activities involving animals during this period. Holmes is also prohibited from applying for an appeal against this ban for the next five years. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which the legal system views repeated violations of animal welfare laws.

Holmes’s history with animal cruelty is extensive. He was already imprisoned for six months and banned for life from keeping animals in 1999 after being convicted of cruelty to a ewe and a ram. His record includes fines for cruelty to livestock, including cattle, and a conviction in November 2009 for presenting cattle at Skipton auction mart in Gargrave Road, Skipton. For that offence, he was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £4,548 in costs.

Despite these penalties, Holmes continued to breach bans and commit further acts of cruelty, including offenses against sheep and cattle, as well as attempting to illegally move sheep to France. His repeated violations culminated in his 2011 conviction, which resulted in a six-month jail sentence and a lifetime ban on keeping animals. His persistent misconduct has been a source of concern for authorities and animal welfare organizations alike.

In July 2016, Holmes attempted to appeal his lifetime ban, but the appeal was unsuccessful. Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC emphasized that Holmes, who has accumulated four lifetime bans under the Animal Welfare Act, would never be considered a suitable person to care for animals. The court reviewed Holmes’s extensive criminal record, which includes 13 relevant convictions and multiple failed appeals spanning over two decades. The judge described the case as an “appalling background of distressing cruelty to animals,” reinforcing the need for strict enforcement of animal protection laws to prevent further harm.

Holmes’s case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and enforcement in safeguarding animal welfare, especially when individuals with a history of cruelty continue to flout legal restrictions. Authorities remain committed to prosecuting repeat offenders like Holmes to ensure that animals are protected from further suffering and that justice is served.