A 77-year-old man has been fined $14,500 for breaching a lifetime animal ownership ban.
The Shire of Mundaring resident was convicted on several charges of animal cruelty in 2012 in relation to around 70 starving and neglected sheep and cattle at properties he owned.
He was prohibited from being in charge of any animal, with the exception of two cats and two dogs, as long as they were sterilised.
The Northam Magistrates Court heard that in September 2021, the offender was found to be in charge of cattle and pigs at a property in Mokine, 95kms east of Perth.
In addition, when an RSPCA WA inspector attended the offender’s home in Beechina, she saw a female black kelpie which the offender admitted was unsterilised and had had litters of puppies in the past.
In sentencing, Magistrate Benjamin Tyers said this was an overwhelming prosecution case.
He told the offender, “Three courts have made the (permanent prohibition order) clear” but the offender “cannot and does not accept the ruling of the court” telling the man, “It appears you do not like to obey laws.”
Magistrate Tyers told the offender to come to terms with the fact the permanent prohibition order has been made “otherwise you are going to jail”.
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said animal ownership bans are imposed for a reason.
“When you show yourself to be unable or unwilling to care for animals as they should be, the Court will impose these bans to protect other animals,” she said.
“To blatantly ignore a court-ordered sanction shows just how little regard the offender has for the law. This outcome should serve as a warning to others who are considering breaching their own bans – you can and will be prosecuted.”
In addition to the fine, the offender was ordered to pay $3171.70 in costs.
The man was convicted under section 55(4) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. He was found to have not complied with a prohibition order made against him.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a $20,000 fine and one year in prison.
