East Yorkshire farmer banned from keeping sheep for 5 years

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said its animal health officers had been involved with Malcolm Metcalfe, 64, since 2021.

When they visited the farmer’s lands together with officers from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) between July 9, 2024, and September 3, 2024, they repeatedly found decomposing animal remains, sheep carcasses, sheep lying down and inadequate water supplies.

The problems continued despite Metcalfe being served with legal orders compelling him to remove the carcasses and get a vet to investigate the high mortality of his stock.

A post‑mortem examination on one lamb found severe parasitic gastroenteritis, which a vet said a “competent stockkeeper should have recognised and acted upon the condition sooner”, a council statement said.

Checks also identified multiple unconfirmed sheep movements recorded on the national database.

Metcalfe’s mitigation was that he was sorry for his actions, which were out of character and linked to his health.

His defence team said sheep farming was all he has known and remains his only source of income, but he now recognises he is no longer able to keep sheep.  All the sheep now belong to his sister.

Malcolm Metcalfe, 64, now of Sledgate Garth, Rillington, pleaded guilty to eight animal health and welfare offences at Beverley Magistrates Court.

He was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years and banned for five years from owning, keeping, transporting, participating in the keeping, and being party to an arrangement under which he is entitled to control or influence the way in which sheep are kept, for five years. He was also ordered to pay £1778.01 in prosecution costs and a £154 statutory surcharge.

Cllr Lyn Healing, East Riding of Yorkshire Council cabinet member for communities and public protection said: “Everyone responsible for keeping livestock must uphold the highest standards without exception. Anything less puts animal welfare and public health at risk and undermines the integrity of the livestock sector.”

“Our animal health officers will rigorously investigate incidents of this kind, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council will not hesitate to take formal enforcement action wherever it is required.”