Given that the county council has not brought to justice farmers for cruel treatment of farm animals, I find it interesting that West Dorset District Council have prosecuted the owner of Pirates Cove, near Chesil Beach, for non-planning permission for animal dwellings and shelters.

The owner of the land has been rescuing these animals for the last 13 years and owns the land they are built on.

Is it really in the public interest to take him to court?

All he was doing was trying to do was bring good to the world through his compassion to animals and putting them before himself.

How can it be that people like Jimmy Savile and Cyril Smith – who have both done a lot of harm to children and young people – have managed through the establishment’s protection to get away with their crimes and yet all we have here is someone whose main intention is to provide safety for animals and protection, at personal cost to himself, yet is punished due to silly red tape?

I believe the council has hounded the poor owner for the last 13 years and hoped for a full fine. Thankfully the judge was a good man, and gave him a much lesser fine. Yet the council has succeeded in doing nothing more than wasting taxpayers’ money in bringing about this prosecution and have brought to an end the good done to rescued animals. Well done West Dorset District Council, you should be very proud of your progress.

Neil Geddes-Ward Brushmakers Court Chesham Bucks