A MAN has been found guilty of an animal cruelty offence after a digger was used to drag a new born calf from its mother.
Dino Cheleman, 48, of Church Farm in Ardeley, near Stevenage, was found guilty on Friday of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – a red poll heifer breed of cow – which was giving birth to a calf at the farm in March 2012.
Cheleman used a JCB vehicle to drag the calf from its mother at the farm, which is open to the public seven days a week.
Co-defendant Alex Steele, 38, of Lonsdale Road, Stevenage, was found not guilty of the same offence.
A charge of failing to stop the act against Tim Waygood, 46, also of Church Farm, Ardeley, was dropped prior to the four-day trial, which was heard at Hertford Magistrates’ Court.
Cheleman is due to be sentenced at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on June 10.
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