A FARMER who made book-keeping errors at her family business has been fined and ordered to pay costs of over £3,500..

Julie Helliwell, 49, of Coperthwaite Farm, Lowgill, near Kendal, pleaded guilty to 25 “paper offences” when she appeared at South Lakeland Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

John Farnworth, prosecuting for Trading Standards, told the court that Helliwell was responsible for keeping records at the farm and notifying the local authorities of all cattle movements.

Mr Farnworth said Trading Standards officers discovered that Helliwell had failed to notify the Secretary of State about the death of three cows at her holding on August 8, 2007.

The court heard that on 14 occasions between January 31, 2008 and November 16, 2008 she failed to record that a cow had been moved onto her farm.

And on eight occasions between September 17, 2008 and November 27, 2008, she failed to record that a cow had been moved off the farm.

Mr Farnworth said the records were necessary for a cattle database created after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001.

“Mrs Helliwell is responsible for the paperwork side of the business,” said Mr Farnworth. “Any cattle that arrives on the farm needs to be noted in a record book and they need to notify the local authority.

“From August 2007 to November 2008 there are 25 occasions when Mrs Helliwell did not do that.”

Mr Farnworth said Helliwell was interviewed by Trading Standards officers and made full and frank admissions stating that she was the registered keeper and she had not kept completely up to date with the records.

He added that the Rural Payments Agency wrote to Helliwell in November 2007 warning that they would reduce her payments because of poor record keeping. He said the British Cattle Movement Service also wrote to Helliwell in March 2009 reminding her to keep up to date with her records.

Andrew Cunningham, defending, said the Helliwell family had since hired an accountant for their book keeping and had ceased all activities with bovines.

He said the “paper offending” had created no risk to human health or animal welfare and Helliwell had made no financial gain.

Mr Cunningham said the defendant believed she was keeping the books correctly, there were no missing records and she had co-operated fully with trading standards.

“She is a 49-year-old responsible mother and she was doing her best,” he said. “I can assure you that you will never see her offending in this way again.”

Chair of the bench Keith Coxon said magistrates had never considered a custodial sentence but a community order would be inappropriate.

Magistrates ordered Helliwell to pay a £1,000 fine, £2,600 court costs and a £15 victim service charge.