A couple who were banned from keeping birds after an animal cruelty case have found themselves back in court.
The pair from St Austell had previously been ordered by magistrates not to keep poultry after geese, ducks and chickens were found in shocking conditions on their smallholding.
But Joanna Caroline Lutey, 42, and Michael John Thomas Jackson, 31, of Boldventure Close, were brought back to court on Monday for breaching the ban. They both pleaded guilty.
Cornwall Council originally prosecuted Lutey and Jackson in October last year when they were convicted of causing cruelty to birds. Inspectors found chickens and rabbits being housed in extremely small and dirty, rodent infested, barren cages.
Jackson was given a 200-hour community service order and Lutey a 100 hour community service order. They were ordered to pay £4,000 in costs and given a 10-year ban on keeping poultry.
On December 18, the pair appealed against the ban at Truro Crown Court, however the appeal was refused and they were given a month to dispose of their birds.
Truro Magistrates' Court heard on Monday that Cornwall Council’s Animal Health team visited the smallholding on January 23 and 31 and discovered 120 birds still living in unsuitable conditions.
Due to their early guilty plea and the fact that the birds have now been removed, they were each given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,000 each towards court costs.
