Stud farmer who posed as a vet faces jail after neglected horses and dogs had to be put down

Bernard Wentink, 54, of Coalburn, Lanarkshire, admitted seven breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act and one breach of the Veterinary Surgeons Act after carrying out procedures on horses for over 15 years without qualifications. Sheriff Derek Livingston told him at Airdrie Sheriff Court that imprisonment was "uppermost in my mind" before deferring sentence until December 1.

Scottish SPCA officers found horses standing in darkness amid "deep wet faeces" and dogs caged in filth with no food or water.

A black mare and three dogs were beyond saving and had to be euthanised despite receiving veterinary attention; the bones of a horse were also found on his land.

The fiscal depute told the court the animals' poor condition would have been "obvious to any reasonable owner."