A BURNLEY farmer who failed to dispose of around 100 sheep carcasses could face a jail sentence for his lack of action.

Nigel Pepper, 38, of Shuttleworth Pasture Farm, Back Lane, Briercliffe, yesterday failed to appear at Reedley Magistrates Court.

The case was heard in his absence and the court was told he had committed 55 separate offences of failing to dispose of sheep carcasses without undue delay, under the Animal Health Act 1981, on March 19, 2002. The case was proven but adjourned for four weeks to consider Pepper's punishment.

Nick McNamara, prosecuting for the Trading Standards department, told the court that a complaint had been made in March this year about numerous sheep carcasses scattered about the farm by passers-by.

On March 16, three days before the offence being dealt with at court was committed, an animal health and welfare inspector found approximately 20 sheep carcasses in a small field near the main road. The inspector contacted DEFRA and arranged for a vet to visit the farm the following week.

When animal welfare officers visited the farm on March 19 they discovered more than 90 sheep carcasses, some of which had severely deteriorated as well as bone and skulls. They told Pepper they had found approximately 100 carcasses and that he had to dispose of them as soon as possible.

A week later the animal health inspector returned to the farm where Pepper was in the process of filling a skip with carcasses.

On April 2 most of the carcasses had been removed but some were still partially burned and Pepper was told he had to burn them to ashes.

Mr McNamara said: "The purpose of this legislation is to minimise the risk of disease spreading from the animals to other livestock and the scavaging beasts, as well as to the watercourse surrounding the land."

Pepper was told to contact the animal health inspector as soon as he had spoken to his solicitor but despite being sent numerous letters, he had still made no contact.

Magistrates referred to the offences as 'very serious allegations' and said they would have to ajourn the case until November 21 to consider the possibility of custody.