A DALTON farmer is set to appeal against his sentence after he was convicted of causing suffering to bulls. 

William Gordon Parker Junior, 34, of Greenhills House, Dalton, pleaded guilty to five offences of causing unnecessary suffering to cattle under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Earlier this month, Parker was sentenced to eight weeks in jail for each of the five offences, all to run concurrently, and disqualified from keeping all animals for a period of four years.

During an inspection carried out by officials at his farm in early August 2014 they discovered five bulls aged between one and two years old which had been subjected to illegal DIY castration attempts without anaesthetic using a burdizzo type method, causing unnecessary suffering, swelling and extreme pain to the animals under Parker’s care and control.

On 8 October 2015 at Lancaster Crown Court the partnership ME Parker and Sons of Greenhills Farm, Dalton in Furness was convicted of various offences relating to cattle identification, disposal of carcases and animal welfare, with William Parker Jnr sentenced to 16 months in prison.

· The concurrent 8 week sentences handed down for the five cattle are also to run concurrently with his existing custody.

· The partnership was fined a total of £44,000 with an additional £20,262 in prosecution costs, at the October hearing.

Parker will appear at Preston Crown Court tomorrow to appeal against his sentence for the five offences of causing unnecessary suffering to cattle.