RICHARD SCARFE'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN PEMBROKE DOCK AND LAMPHEY

Richard Scarfe, a farmer from Pembroke Dock, has been at the center of a disturbing series of animal welfare violations that have shocked the local community and animal rights advocates alike. Born on February 9, 1981, Scarfe owns a four-acre property known as Highland View Fold, located on The Ridgway in Lamphey, which also functions as a holiday campsite. Over the course of 2019 to 2021, inspectors from various authorities uncovered appalling conditions in which animals were kept, including pigs, goats, donkeys, cattle, and sheep.

Multiple visits by animal welfare inspectors from the local authority, police officers, and officials from the Animal and Plant Health Agency revealed a pattern of neglect and cruelty. The animals were found in a state of extreme distress, often covered in mud, with inadequate shelter and insufficient access to clean drinking water and food. The conditions on Scarfe’s farm were so dire that pigs were seen lying in muddy pens, and four animal carcasses were discovered abandoned in the fields, alongside soiled bedding and contaminated water troughs.

Despite repeated warnings and inspections, the situation did not improve. On March 4, 2021, authorities planned to seize the animals to prevent further suffering. However, Scarfe publicly announced on Facebook that his animals would be taken without cause, which led to a large crowd gathering at the farm. Approximately 30 to 40 individuals arrived, blocking police efforts to remove the animals and effectively preventing the authorities from executing the seizure order.

Scarfe, who has eight years of experience managing livestock after working in asbestos removal, claimed that he was being harassed by inspectors. His defense lawyer argued that Scarfe loved his animals and was doing his best to care for them. She explained that the carcasses found in the fields were temporarily left there because his tractor was broken and he was unable to move them. Regarding the pigs’ hunger, she stated they only needed to be fed once daily, and the dirty water troughs were due to rainwater caught from the roof, giving them a muddy appearance.

During the court proceedings, Scarfe pleaded guilty to the images of animal neglect presented but insisted that he had since changed his practices and improved the conditions. However, District Judge Christopher James expressed his shock and disappointment at the state of the animals under Scarfe’s care. He criticized Scarfe’s attitude, noting that the defendant believed he had done nothing wrong and had been advised to plead guilty, which the judge saw as a sign of contempt and arrogance.

The judge acknowledged that some of the issues stemmed from incompetence rather than outright neglect but emphasized the severity of the situation given the number of animals involved and the evidence of prolonged suffering. He pointed out that the deaths and injuries sustained by the animals over an extended period demonstrated a failure to meet basic standards of animal welfare. The court sentenced Scarfe to 14 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, along with 240 hours of unpaid community service. Additionally, he was disqualified from owning or keeping livestock, including goats, donkeys, cattle, sheep, and pigs, for five years.

Further investigations in April 2023 revealed the extent of the ongoing neglect. Nearly 100 animals, including a cow, five dogs, 19 poultry, 26 sheep, and 43 pigs, were seized from a farm at The Ridgway, Lamphey. The seizure was carried out by Dyfed-Powys Police, the RSPCA, and Pembrokeshire’s animal health and welfare inspectors after vets issued a Section 18 determination, indicating that the animals were suffering or at imminent risk of suffering. The animals were taken to safety, where their health was assessed and their care monitored.

During this operation, a 42-year-old man, believed to be Richard Scarfe, was arrested on suspicion of breaching a disqualification order under the Animal Welfare Act. He was subsequently released under investigation. Pembrokeshire County Council officials expressed their commitment to taking decisive action against animal neglect, with Cllr Michelle Bateman praising the efforts of the authorities and emphasizing that such interventions serve as a warning to others who might neglect animal welfare. The case continues to be under review, with further legal proceedings anticipated.