A Pwllheli man who was banned from keeping horses was found to have 91 ponies on his land, that were being kept in poor conditions causing suffering to dozens of them.

Evan Lloyd Evans, 76, of Chwilog, Pwllheli, pleaded guilty to 10 Animal Welfare Act offences and was given a 20-week suspended jail term by Llandudno magistrates on Monday.

The prosecution followed a multi-agency operation at Evans’ farm in September 2020, after reports horses and other animals were being kept in poor conditions, and - in the case of the ponies - in breach of a pre-existing 10-year ban handed to Evans in 2013.

Video footage shown to the court revealed the conditions at the farm and showed horses stood in filthy, dark and hazardous conditions.

Dozens of horses and other animals were kept in outbuildings, barns and fields in highly inappropriate conditions, with faeces everywhere - and even a bucket of dead rats, the RSPCA said.

The court heard Evans kept 91 ponies in illegal conditions which were unhygienic and not free from hazards.

Vets felt dozens of the horses had suffered unnecessarily - including one, a Welsh Section A pony, who had not received appropriate veterinary care for a broken leg; and another four Section A ponies who had not been given vet attention for lameness. Evans also failed to ensure six of his ponies had appropriate treatment for parasites.

A pony had a severe facial deformity which had gone unchecked. A total of 28 of the ponies suffered as a consequence of Evans’ failure to secure appropriate dental care, while a further eight were also deemed to have suffered through not receiving appropriate hoof care.

In addition to the suspended jail term, Evans was banned from keeping horses and poultry for 20 years, fined £1,000 fine and a £128 victim surcharge.

Evans admitted breaching the previous 10-year ban from keeping equines. His ban was extended by the magistrates and will now continue until 2041.