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An unnamed farmer has admitted to injecting five cows with diesel so he could fake positive bovine tuberculosis (TB) results and claim compensation.
The farmer, who has accepted a caution for interfering with a TB test, claimed financial pressures was the motivation behind the move claimed he injected the animals after hearing about other farmers doing the same thing.
He admitted the offense to Ceredigion council in Wales in a statement which said the animals were injected with a hydrocarbon liquid to mimic the results of a positive TB result before testing in December 2016. Farmer’s Weekly described the potential compensation payout as ‘significant’.
‘Blatant criminal activity’
“Officers from the council worked in partnership with colleagues from government departments to identify charges,” Gareth Lloyd, cabinet member for public protection in Ceredigion, said in a statement.
“The council is pleased that the matter has been dealt with by an admission of guilt and settled by caution. The council will always work in the public interest to bring such offenders to book and to highlight such fraudulent actions.
“It’s simply not acceptable that this abhorrent practice is taking place, as it tarnishes all law-abiding and responsible farmers. The council will not hesitate to deal with such cases as they arise, to stamp out such blatant criminal activity.”
