Hobby farmer banned after sheep starve

A hobby farmer has been banned from owning sheep and cattle for five years after animal inspectors investigating his Oxford lifestyle property found 139 sheep dead from starvation.

The Christchurch District Court was told yesterday that another 188 sheep and two lambs had to be destroyed.

Robert Malcolm MacGregor was yesterday ordered to pay $16,232 in fines and costs by Judge Raoul Neave, and banned from farming sheep and cattle for five years. He admitted three counts of ill-treating animals, and also a charge of failing to ensure their health.

The judge said the venture was ill-advised.

"An inexperienced hobby farmer and absentee landlord on difficult terrain is a disaster waiting to happen, and sure enough it did," he said.