Wrightson man who starved flock fined

FINED: Neville Clark.

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A PGG Wrightson livestock manager and auctioneer has been fined $11,000 and ordered to pay $9000 in vet and investigations costs for leaving more than 1400 sheep to starve.

Stock agent Neville William Clark, 46, pleaded guilty on Monday to leaving 250 sheep, 1100 lambs and 120 in-lamb ewes on a 412ha forest block just south of Gisborne.

Those not already dead were worm- ridden, weak and emaciated. Dozens of the animals were euthanased.

In Gisborne District Court today, Judge Tony Adeane said while the fines might seem light given the maximum penalty was $25,000 and/or six months jail on each charge, the court had to be mindful of the cumulative effect.

Judge Adeane said Clark was a first-time offender, and there was no suggestion he was "willfully cruel for the sake of cruelty. Rather he has fallen short of good [farming] standards".

Clark also has to pay $130 court costs.

An Agriculture and Forestry Ministry statement of facts presented to Gisborne District Court this week said the land could not possibly have provided enough feed for the animals.

Exactly how many sheep had died was unclear, with 600 unaccounted for, believed to have died in inaccessible areas of the forest. "Numerous" sheep were found dead along tracks. Just over 300 were believed to have escaped to neighbouring properties. The rest, believed to be about 350, were rescued from the block.

An autopsy on one of the euthanased sheep showed the only thing in its stomach was "the mud it had eaten in an attempt to stay alive".

The statement said: "The defendant's conduct during this entire investigation has been such that he has shown little concern and empathy towards his animals".

"The conduct in this case is substantially worsened by the defendant's leadership position and role as a livestock manager and stud stock auctioneer for New Zealand's largest stock and station firm, PGG Wrightson."

Clark admitted four charges of failing to provide for the sheep and one of ill-treating sheep. The investigation that led to the laying of the five charges found he had been warned by a local farmer and a work colleague that he was putting too many animals on the block in March 2008.

In July that year, MAF inspectors were called to the site by SPCA staff. Numerous sheep were found dead, and in the next four days dozens were euthanased.

Clark was ordered to check for and remove any remaining sheep, but 14 days later was found not to have made any effort, telling MAF inspectors "it was too wet".

PGG Wrightson's East Coast regional manager, Tom Mowat, confirmed that Clark still worked for the firm, but "internal measures" had been taken. He was no longer a livestock manager as a result of the court case, but had been retained as a livestock representative and auctioneer.

Mr Mowat said though the firm did "not condone animal cruelty", Clark was "extremely well-respected" in the farming community, and his excellent work record was taken into account.

- © Fairfax NZ News