RICARDO JAMES OF CHARWOOD SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN LEICESTER

Ricardo James, a resident of Charnwood, was found guilty of severe animal neglect and cruelty related to his farm operations in Leicester. Born on February 14, 1979, James owned and managed James Farms located on Keyham Lane East, Scraftoft, Leicester. Investigations revealed that he had allowed his farm animals to endure deplorable conditions, with some animals left to decay in the open, while others were deprived of basic necessities such as food and water.

On November 3, 2020, officers from the Leicestershire Trading Standards Animal Health Team, in collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), conducted a thorough inspection of James’s farm. During this visit, inspectors discovered a disturbing scene: several dead sheep and lambs were found discarded in a blue plastic container, which was situated amidst a collection of approximately 20 sheep, along with seven cattle, 13 goats, 20 pigs, and 12 geese. The conditions of the animals were deemed to be severely inadequate, prompting the inspectors to issue warnings and advise James to address six specific issues that were classified as 'requiring improvement.'

However, when the authorities revisited the farm on November 13, 2020, the situation had worsened significantly. The condition of the animals had deteriorated further, with many left without access to fresh water, proper food, or suitable shelter. The standards that had previously been flagged for improvement had not been adequately addressed, with only one of the six issues being remedied. A county council spokesperson confirmed that the overall standards of animal care had