A PIG farmer was today convicted of breaching pig movement regulations and now faces up to £35,000 in fines when he returns to court to be sentenced.

Magistrates at Bishop Auckland Court, County Durham, convicted farmer Alan Clement, 57, in his absence after he failed to attend the hearing.

The case against Clement, of West Craig Lea Farm, Roddymoor Crook, was outlined by Terry Fenwick of Durham County Council's trading standards department.

Mr Fenwick told magistrates that Clement had failed to maintain records of pig movements last year.

The court heard that the seven charges were specimen charges for a period in December 2000.

The offences are all contrary to the pigs records identification and movement order 1995 related to the movement of pigs from a farm to an abattoir, also in County Durham.

Mr Fenwick told the court that Clement had repeatedly refused to co-operate with trading standards officers on the various occasions they had called at the farm to inspect his pig movement documents.

He told the court: "Clement was asked for his records and said it would take some time to get them.

"Throughout the meetings he was abusive, aggressive, confrontational, and swore repeatedly."

After the 30-minute hearing the magistrates found the seven specimen cases proved but adjourned for sentence to allow Clement to offer a defence.

Bench chairman Eric Fell said: "We are concerned that he has refused to co-operate with all forms of authority but not withstanding that we feel he should be given one further opportunity to appear in court and mitigate on his own behalf.

"These are most serious matters given the climate that exists since the offences first took place."

The hearing was adjourned until October 22 at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court.

Each of the seven offences carry a maximum £5,000 fine.