VIVIAN JOHN EXELBY'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN CAMBORNE REVEALED

Vivian John Exelby, a farmer residing in Little Borthog, Howe Downs, Camborne TR14 0NF, was convicted in 2018 of committing a series of serious animal welfare offences involving pigs and poultry. The case highlighted the neglect and mistreatment of farm animals on his property, which he had inhabited for his entire life.

Exelby, who was 75 years old at the time of conviction, admitted to multiple charges of animal cruelty. The magistrates heard detailed accounts of the deplorable conditions in which his animals were kept. Poultry on his farm had access to numerous hazards, including discarded plastic sacks, old machinery, and collapsed structures, all of which posed significant risks of injury or death. The environment was clearly unsafe, with the potential to cause harm to the birds housed there.

Further charges detailed the poor state of the farm infrastructure. There were broken and bent mesh fences, damaged corrugated iron sheets, and wooden panels that had deteriorated to the point of being hazardous. The animals were not provided with adequate shelter, such as a dry lying area, which is essential for their health and comfort. The diet given to the animals was substandard, and there was evidence of unnecessary suffering inflicted on a pig, including inadequate water supply. The authorities also found that Exelby failed to protect his pigs from pain, injury, and disease, with some housed in isolation and others kept in unsuitable conditions.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the case involved a hen kept in a cramped, unsuitable enclosure with solid sides, no natural light, and damp conditions, all of which are detrimental to poultry welfare. Additionally, there was an incident where a pig was left vulnerable to injury after a roof collapse, further exemplifying the neglect.

Exelby pleaded guilty to all 12 charges, which related to offences committed before April 30, 2018. In response, a court order was issued under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, prohibiting him from having any responsibility for farm animals in the future. This effectively banned him from keeping livestock for the rest of his life.

Stuart Benson, representing Cornwall Council, expressed his disappointment over the case, stating, “It is regrettable that prosecution action had to be taken in this case against an elderly farmer. However, despite many attempts over the years to advise him, he has continually failed to provide the most basic of needs to his animals. Consequently, there was no credible option but to prosecute him.”

Following the conviction, Exelby sold off the remaining livestock on his farm. The court sentenced him to four months of electronic monitoring, ordered him to pay £1,500 in costs, and imposed an £85 victim surcharge. His lifetime ban from keeping any farm animals remains in effect, underscoring the severity of the neglect and the authorities’ commitment to animal welfare.