A Garnant farmer who subjected animals on his land to “persistent and sustained suffering” has been sentenced to a four-month suspended prison sentence at Llanelli Magistrates Court.

Andrew Paul Thomas, of Gwyndwngwn Farm, had previously pleaded guilty to seven charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Prosecutor Jonathan Tarrant told the court that on February 10, an RSPCA officer and a veterinary surgeon visited the 36-year-old's farm following a report of a dead pony spotted on his land.

“The officer and the vet were taken to a field, which was in extremely poor condition, by Thomas where they found the first dead pony,” said Mr Tarrant.

“They were then taken to a second field and discovered dead colt lying next to barbed wire.”

Mr Tarrant also told the court that on further inspection the officer and the vet found the carcass of a dead ram and three more dead horses.

The vet examined all the horses and gave them a conditioning score of 0.5. Horses are usually conditioned on a scale of one to five with one being poor.

One horse, whose back bones were protruding and had an infected parasitic burn on its back, collapsed during an examination and was later put down.

Defence solicitor Aled Owen told the court that since the inspection Thomas had sold nearly all the horses and that just four still remained on his land.

“I can confirm Thomas has made every effort to re-home the animals,” said Mr Owen.

“There is still four horses remaining, one of which was due to be sold today but the buyer let him down.”

Mr Owen said at the time of the RSPCA inspection, Thomas had been experiencing problems in his personal life - his previous relationship had broken down.

When sentencing Thomas, District Judge David Parsons, said: “You are currently in breach of an order following a conviction in June of animal neglect after failing to seek treatment for a dog which had broken its leg.

“You are a farmer, in a position of responsibility.

“You subjected these animals to persistent and sustained suffering — which you were well aware of.

“Be under no illusion, if you come before this court again, you will go to prison.”

Mr Parsons sentenced Thomas to four months for each charge — to run concurrently — suspended for 12 months.

Thomas was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work, pay costs of £5,368 and an £85 victim surcharge, and disqualified from owning horses for five years.

RSPCA inspector Chris Coleman said: “It was a shocking case and the horses' suffering was totally unnecessary. The animals did not have their needs met.”