A Keighley man has been banned from keeping poultry and ferrets after he admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animals in his care.

Aaron Scrivens, 26, of Western Avenue, Riddlesden, pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court yesterday to failing to properly investigate the causes of weight loss and poor bodily condition of a game cock, three hen partridges and a ferret, between August 14 and September 4 last year. Two of the hen partridges and the ferret died, but the other animals recovered.

Scrivens was given a conditional discharge for two years, was disqualified from keeping poultry and ferrets for five years and must pay costs of £2,844.75.

Paul Fitzpatrick, mitigating, said: “A combination of inexperience and naivety on Mr Scrivens’ part led to these animals becoming underweight.”