A farmer was jailed for six months by Bradford magistrates yesterday for breaching a ban on keeping animals.

David Holmes, of Hainsworth Farm, Hen Holme Lane, Silsden, where he owns 90 acres of grassland, continually ignored court orders which have banned him from owning animals, the court heard.

The prosecution was brought by Bradford Council following his breach of the order on February 17.

The offence came to light when he was seen muck-spreading on his land in Silsden by a Council environmental health officer.

The 54-year-old denied the offence and the case went to trial, with District Judge, Susan Bouch, finding in the Council’s favour.

Sentencing was remitted to magistrates yesterday, who as well as sending Holmes to prison, also issued a new disqualification under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which has greater powers.

It means that he cannot keep or own any animals and he cannot participate in any schemes that are involved with animals for the next ten years.

Neither can he apply for appeal against the ban for the next five years.

Holmes already has two previous disqualification bans after prosecutions brought by Bradford Council and the RSPCA but he has continued to breach those bans, the District Judge was told during the trial.

After the case, Jonathan Balsham, the Council’s consultant solicitor, said: “While Holmes keeps on breaching the laws relating to animals, we will continue to prosecute him.

“He has shown no regard for animal welfare or for the court orders and we are pleased that the court has taken a serious view of these matters and has sentenced him accordingly.”

Holmes was made the subject of the lifetime bans in 1999 after an inspection team found emaciated and filthy cattle at his farm and in 2000.

In November 2009 he was caught presenting cattle at Skipton auction mart in Gargrave Road, Skipton and sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work and had to pay £4,548 in costs.