Stonnall farmer who left sheep to drown wins prison appeal
A MIDLAND farmer jailed for leaving more than 80 sheep to drown in flooded fields has been released by an appeal judge.
Firefighters, police and RSPCA officers were repeatedly called out to rescue sheep who were up to their necks in floodwater along the River Tame in Staffordshire.
The animals belonged to Anthony Russell, but he ignored flood warnings and turned up too late to save some of the water-logged livestock.
The 54-year-old, of Lower Stonnall, was jailed for four months by Tamworth magistrates after he pleaded guilty to six offences of animal cruelty.
But, following an appeal, a judge decided his sentence was too severe and instead handed Mr Russell a two month sentence, suspended for a year.
