Gregory Stephens: Mortlake grazier banned from owning cattle after animal cruelty charges

A Victorian grazier has been banned from keeping cattle, and copped a huge fine, after being found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty.

A Victorian grazier has been banned from owning cattle after he was found guilty of 12 counts of aggravated animal cruelty following the deaths of 20 cattle, including Angus cross cows and heifers. PIC: ZOE PHILLIPS

A Victorian grazier has been banned from owning cattle for two years, and copped a $120,000 fine, following the deaths of 20 animals across his NSW properties.

Gregory Stephens, 52, appeared in Albury Local Court on Monday for sentencing after being found guilty of 12 counts of aggravated animal cruelty during a five-day hearing last year.

The second generation farmer originally pleaded not guilty to the animal cruelty charges.

Court documents reveal he was charged following the deaths of 20 cattle, including Angus cross cows and heifers, across three Finley, NSW, properties between July and August 2018.

There were 11 cattle found dead, while nine had to be put down due to “extremely poor body condition”.

Stephens’ defence barrister Stratton Langslow said the offending happened in the middle of the drought, and most of his client’s cattle had been in a good condition.

“There were over 600 cattle on the properties and the convictions relate to 20 of them, that’s about 2 per cent,” Mr Langslow said.

“In relation to those 20 animals there’s no evidence he knew of them until he was informed by the RSPCA.”

Stephens, who lives in Framlingham, Victoria, also owns property in Mortlake, and Mr Langslow said there had been no issues with those cattle upon inspection by the Department of Primary Industries.

Magistrate Miranda Moody said the Mortlake region had not been in drought, and Stephens was responsible for protecting the welfare of his animals.

“He was the person in charge,” Ms Moody said.

“He should have gone around those cattle regularly or delegated someone to do so.”

Counsel for the prosecution, Ian Fraser, said the offending was above mid-range and the threshold for jail had been crossed.

Ms Moody said Stephens had showed “no remorse” or insight into his offending, and was concerned for the welfare of any animals in his care if there was another drought.

“While these animals are raised for slaughter, there is still an obligation to farmers to treat these living animals with decency,” she said.

“There’s an element of greed in retaining too many animals for breeding stock in the middle of a drought.

She said the animals had not reached the state of emaciation or death overnight.

“I have found it was neglect that led to the deaths of these animals,” Ms Moody said.

“They were left to die in the most egregious circumstances.”

The maximum penalty for one count of aggravated animal cruelty is two years in prison and a fine of $22,000,

Due to Stephens residing in Victoria, Ms Moody could not sentence Stephens to an intensive corrections order.

Stephens was sentenced to a three-year community corrections order, and fined $10,000 for each charge, totalling $120,000.

He was also banned from owning or keeping cattle for two years.

He was also ordered to pay $22,190 to the RSPCA.

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Originally published as Gregory Stephens: Mortlake grazier banned from owning cattle after animal cruelty charges