A CAR wash owner has been convicted of animal cruelty after being caught on film slitting a ram’s throat at his Lydney business.

Farhad Khalil Ahmed was ordered to pay £1,785 and do 150 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order for his role in the animal’s “horrific death”.

He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the ram under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 when he appeared before Cheltenham magistrates on Monday (November 19).

The film of the incident was originally obtained by Caerphilly Trading Standards officers in an unrelated investigation, and was passed to Gloucestershire colleagues who launched an investigation leading to Ahmed being prosecuted.

Magistrates heard that he admitted being filmed cutting the ram’s throat as an accomplice helped him restrain the animal.

The magistrates determined for the purposes of sentencing that he had “medium culpability with greater harm”.

Ahmed was given a discount for his early guilty plea and was ordered to pay the full prosecution costs of £1,700 and an £85 victim surcharge.

Cllr Dave Norman, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for public protection said “I would like to congratulate our Trading Standards Animal Health Team for bringing this offender to justice.

“This animal clearly suffered a horrific death at the hand of this person and his accomplices.

“Our Trading Standards team work to ensure the strict welfare standards for farm animals are followed at all times.”