Council prosecutes two of its own councillors

Two Powys County Councillors have appeared in Welshpool Magistrates Court where they admitted a string of animal health offences brought against them by their own authority.

Aled Davies (53), Conservative councillor for Llanrhaeadr and Llansilin of Glanogeu, Rhiwlas, Llansilin and Gwynfor Thomas (49), Conservative councillor for Llansantffraid of Ponty Pentre Farm, Llansantffraid were prosecuted by Powys County Council.

Aled Davies pleaded guilty to six specimen charges against him, four charges under the Cattle Identification (Wales) Regulations of 2007 and a further two charges under the Animal By-products (Wales) Regulations 2014. 

The magistrates fined Davies £800 for the first CIR offence with no separate penalty for the remaining five charges.  In addition he was instructed to pay a victim surcharge of £80, court costs of £180 and a contribution of £1,500 towards council costs - a total of £2560. 

He was also warned that the offences were serious and that as he had already been given a caution for the offences in the past, that if he were to re-appear before the court for similar offences a custodial sentence would more than likely be the outcome.

Gwynfor Thomas admitted nine charges and asked for 153 other offences to be taken into consideration. His offences included failing to report the death of animals on his farm and systematic failure to maintain animal movement and breeding records.

Magistrates adjourned his case for an all-options pre-sentence report to be carried out and he will reappear before Welshpool Magistrates on Tuesday.