Gary Edwards Evans was well known to the Ministry for Primary Industries. This image shows one of his sheep with ear cancer. Photo / Ministry for Primary Industries
Gary Edwards Evans was well known to the Ministry for Primary Industries. This image shows one of his sheep with ear cancer. Photo / Ministry for Primary Industries
A farmer has been banned from owning livestock for the rest of his life after severely neglecting his flock of sheep.
Today, the farmer, 70-year-old Gary Edward Evans, collapsed and was assisted by security when he arrived at the Christchurch District Court for sentencing.
He was then brought intothe courtroom in a wheelchair, where he broke down in tears.
Evans had a number of supporters in court as he appeared on nine animal welfare charges.
Over the following months, inspectors found dozens more sheep suffering from lameness and flystrike.
Evans ignored multiple notices to euthanise the animals.
At the hearing, MPI lawyer Ayla MacTavish submitted a starting point of 18 to 24 months’ imprisonment was appropriate.
However, she acknowledged that an alternative sentence to imprisonment could be appropriate, accepting that Evans had long suffered from mental health issues and that he had admitted the charges early on.
Defence lawyer Stuart Gloyn submitted that MPI had overstated the gravity of the offending.
Gloyn said it lacked the aggravating features present in more serious cases and that imprisonment was not justified.
He submitted that a $50,000 fine for the reckless ill-treatment charge was the appropriate starting point, with a $10,000 uplift for the remaining offending.
Gloyn accepted that Evans’s offending involved delays in, and failure to treat suffering sheep, and failure to comply with directions to treat the animals.
However, he submitted that a 55% discount was appropriate, for Evans’ guilty pleas, previous good character, mental health issues and remorse, resulting in a $27,000 fine.
Judge O’Driscoll said Evans’ offending was aggravated by the causing of significant pain or distress to the animals, and his sole responsibility for the flock.
The judge noted the offending occurred in circumstances where Evans had previously been on notice for animal welfare concerns on his property.
He said MPI had made repeated requests for immediate action.
“In my assessment, this adds an element of ignorance in that the defendant knew his sheep were suffering but did not turn his mind to their care and treatment.
“However, I do caveat his lack of remedial action in response to the MPI interventions with the defendant’s poor mental health, which affected his ability to take action.”
The pre-sentence report showed Evans experienced increasing stress and difficulty coping with the demands of managing a farm in the context of repeated engagement with MPI.
The judge said Evans’ mental health difficulties did not excuse the offending nor diminish the seriousness of the harm caused.
On charges of failing to ensure the health of the animals was met, failing to ensure they received treatment, reckless ill-treatment and failing to comply, Evans was fined $30,000 plus $9840 in costs.
He was disqualified from owning or exercising authority over livestock for life.
Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles in New Zealand and overseas for the last 16 years. Most recently he was editor of the Hauraki-Coromandel Post, based in Whangamatā. He was previously deputy editor of the Cook Islands News.
