AN ALTARNUN farmer was jailed for 60 days at Liskeard Magistrates' Court on April 7 for repeatedly neglecting ­cattle.

Alfred John Wadge, aged 59 of Higher Tregirls Farm, Altarnun was convicted last month, following a trial, of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The court was told that in March 2008, on land owned by his father at Tregirls Farm, Jolls Ground and Trethinna, Polyphant, the defendant had failed to ensure cattle in his care had a suitable diet and that cattle, sheep and ponies were protected from potentially injurious objects.

The prosecution was brought by the then Cornwall County Council's trading standards department.

The offences, which took place while Mr Wadge was banned from keeping animals, had been committed in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed in July 2007 for similar offences.

Liskeard Magistrates told Mr Wadge they were jailing him because of his "repeat offending in direct contravention of a suspended sentence for similar matters and because of the overall extent of the animal neglect."

As well as the 60 day custodial sentence, Mr Wadge was banned for ten years from owning, keeping or participating in the keeping of cattle or sheep.