A FARMER must pay fines and costs totalling nearly £10,000 following a series of breaches of cattle identification regulations.

Iwan Gruffydd James, of Fferm Pencaeau, Glynarthen, appeared before magistrates at Aberystwyth Justice Centre to admit to a string of offences which had been brought before the court by Ceredigion County Council.

Among 16 the charges the 42-year-old admitted were failing to retain and produce to an inspector cattle passports for five animals with ear tag numbers, failing to register cattle, failing to notify the death of cattle, applying ear tag numbers to cattle that had already been used on different animals and moving cattle without obtaining a licence from the National Assembly.

Fines between £400 and £665 were imposed for each offence, along with costs of £1,558.27 and a victim surcharge of £66.50, making a total of £9,614.77.