A livestock owner has been sentenced after serious and prolonged animal welfare failings involving almost 100 cattle were found on a Staffordshire farm.

The case followed a surprise inspection of Brookside View, a farm in Uttoxeter, on 25 March 2025 by Staffordshire County Council's Trading Standards Animal Health Team.

According to the county council: "Officers found multiple cattle in extremely poor condition, including numerous dead animals and other emaciated animals unable to stand.

"They also found cattle without adequate access to feed or water and calves housed in dirty conditions."

Jennifer Bennett, aged 30, of Brookside View, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Thursday (30 July).

She was sentenced to a 14-week suspended jail sentence, 12 months of community service, £1,000 in costs plus a £154 victim surcharge and has been disqualified from keeping animals for ten years.

Many of the cattle were removed from the farm to prevent further harm with several in such poor health had to be put down.

The investigation also uncovered suspected offences relating to cattle identification and animal by-products legislation.

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Ms Bennett's father, Alan Bennett, who is responsible for the day-to-day wellbeing of the cattle, will be sentenced separately at Stafford Crown Court.

District Judge O'Connor told the court:"Jennifer Bennett is the person responsible for the welfare of the animals as the legal owner and there was a significant period of neglect which led to disease and death."

Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, said:

"This is another incredibly distressing animal welfare case our Trading Standards officers have had to deal with.

"The suffering uncovered in this case was significant and required immediate action to protect the animals involved.

"We take animal welfare extremely seriously and will not hesitate to pursue robust enforcement action where standards fall below the law."