A FARMER who left a diseased lamb to be eaten alive by crows was found to have another 12 dead sheep in his fields.

Sebastian Peissel, 45, kept more than 100 sheep at South Newington, near Banbury.

But in November a walker discovered the dying animal lying in a pool of blood with one eye missing.

An inspection following the gruesome find revealed some of the flock were weakened by a worm infection of the gut – parasitic gastro-enteritis.

A post-mortem revealed the lamb was also missing part of its tongue.

Another lamb had to be put down after it was found dehydrated and unable to stand.

Richard Webb, of Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards, said: “A reasonable stockman should have spotted the disease symptoms and treated the lambs at the initial scouring stage.

“Mr Peissel clearly failed in his duty of care to these lambs with the consequences, for at least one of the lambs, being what can only be described as horrific.”

Peissel was charged with four offences under the Animal Welfare Act, and appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ court last Friday.

He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the lamb and failing to provide three other sheep with appropriate care He also pleaded guilty to 10 offences under the Animal By-Products Regulations which control the disposal of livestock carcasses and prevent the spread of disease.

He was fined £1,100.