A COW’S back legs had been tied together with thick baling twine for so long that part of one leg remained attached only by a thin piece of hide, a court heard.

Magistrates were told 80-year-old farmer David Watkin, of Trem y Foel, Lixwm, Holywell, had forgotten about the cow.

Prosecutor Julia Longworth, for Denbighshire Council, said: ”The pain and suffering would have gone on for a prolonged period.”

Animal disposal experts had been “shocked” by what they saw.

Watkin pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the cow at his Bodfari farm last July.

He was fined £480 and ordered to pay £2,098 costs.

The animal was destroyed.

Court chairman David Subacchi told him at the Llandudno court:”It was a serious offence.

“Quite significant suffering was caused over a significant period of time to the beast, causing enormous concern to the officers of the authority, and the animal had to be destroyed.”

The prosecution said Watkin had contacted animal disposal experts at Wrexham to request that a cow be destroyed and removed.

A shed had been in poor condition and filthy and the cow’s legs tied together.

There was severe constrictive injury to both hind legs.

Watkin claimed he couldn’t recall tying the legs and he hadn’t noticed the problem.

Defence solicitor Nia Dawson said Watkin had been a farmer for more than 50 years and the welfare of his stock was paramount.

“He’s an unblemished record as a farmer,” she said.

“He’s made a great error of judgement.”

Leg shackles were used to stop splaying and strengthen the muscle after the cow had a calf.

But Watkin used twine and he was “mortified” for forgetting about the animal.

“It’s tragic for the animal.

“Clearly he should have remembered, but he didn’t. He’s genuinely sorry for that,” Mrs Dawson added.