Farmer David Holmes, pictured, has been jailed for six months after defying a lifetime ban on keeping animals for a second time.

And magistrates called on Bradford Council to contact the French authorities and check on animal welfare rules across the Channel, after hearing he had now bought a farm in France and intended to move there.

Holmes, 47, was convicted in his absence last October of breaking the ban and two charges of animal cruelty after he failed to show up for a trial.

He was later arrested and bailed to attend Bradford Magistrates court the following month, but went instead to France to complete the farm deal.

He was rearrested earlier this month after returning to his home at Hainworth Farm, Silsden.

Magistrates' chairman Sheila Patchett told Holmes yesterday he had ''blatantly disregarded'' two bans and, as an experienced farmer, he must have known that many of his animals were suffering pain and distress.

She suggested that Bradford Council should review any reciprocal animal welfare arrangements with the French authorities, as Holmes had ''multiple previous convictions'' for such matters.

Amjad Ali, prosecuting, told the court how a vet visited the Silsden farm in January 2002 after Holmes applied for a movement licence under the Foot and Mouth regulations.

She found that about a quarter of the cattle and sheep there were lame and there was inadequate food for them.

Holmes had been jailed in September 2001 for breaching a lifetime ban on keeping animals imposed by Keighley magistrates in November 1999.

Maria Temkow, mitigating, said Holmes was released from prison in December 2001 and immediately faced difficulties at his farm transporting animals and food because of the foot and mouth crisis.

He did not accept the vet's view that 25 per cent of his animals were in a poor condition.

''He has now bought a farm in France and has arranged for people to go in to the farm at Silsden to feed the animals,'' said Miss Temkow.

''He is now wanting to obtain a tenant for the farm and move to France and farm there.''

Miss Temkow lodged notice of appeal, but her application that Holmes be allowed bail in the meantime was turned down by the magistrates.

John Gullett, a West Riding NFU council delegate, said after the case that he had no recollection of a similar magistrates' order relating to a farmer.

"I think if someone is capable of keeping animals in England they are capable of keeping them anywhere, but the reverse also applies."

A Bradford Council spokesman said they were investigating the situation and seeking advice from the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs.