A farmer from Cullingworth, Bradford, who runs a side-line in chauffeur driven limo hire, has been given a 14-week jail sentence for animal cruelty charges.
53-year-old Harry Sutcliffe admitted 23 counts of animal cruelty at his farm in the Bradford area. An inspector who visited the premises described it as one of the “worst scenes” she had ever faced. Several instances of serious neglect were recorded by the authorities, such as failing to provide water for his animals and leaving the carcases of his dead animals to rot in an old sack.
Sutcliffe also operates his own limo hire business where he offers his services as a chauffeur and dresses up as either Elvis Presley or James Bond. The farmer and limo chauffeur is reported to be heavily in debt, owing in the region of £300,000.
The Bradford man is a repeat offender and was convicted back in 2008 for criminal damage after admitting pelting a welfare officer’s car with his muck spreader.
The solicitor acting on behalf of Sutcliffe requested that he should not receive a jail sentence, as Sutcliffe is now working in cooperation with the authorities.
Following the hearing at the Magistrates Court Sutcliffe was banned from keeping animals for 5 years, and also received a custodial sentence of 14-weeks.
