Man, 22, admits cattle cruelty and £9,000 building work fraud

A 22-year-old man has admitted causing cruelty to cattle in Bath, as well as pleading guilty to a £9,000 fraud.

Hisnain Mahmood owns land at Deanhill Lane in Weston

Animal welfare charges have been brought by Bath & North East Somerset Council against Tobias Moxham, of Landcross in Bideford, and another man, Hisnain Mahmood.

Mahmood, 32, denies the allegations against him.

In March, magistrates issued a warrant backed by bail for both men when they failed to turn up at the court, and matters were adjourned to Wednesday 6th May.

At this week’s hearing Moxham admitted:

• Between 16th March and 2nd May 2025 causing unnecessary suffering to between 19 and 30 bovine calves that were grossly malnourished.
• Between 16th March and 22nd April 2025 causing unnecessary suffering to a bovine calf which had chronic malnutrition.
• Between 16th March and 2nd May 2025 did not take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of between 19 and 30 calves were met as they were kept outside, rather than in a barn.
• Between the same dates did not take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of those calves were met as they were weaned too young.
• Between 16th March and 19th August 2025 did not take reasonable steps to ensure that the calves were protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease, due to rubble, fence post holes and plastic in the field where they were grazing.
• Between 16th March and 2nd May 2025, being responsible for those calves, failed to take reasonable steps to ensure they were cared for by enough competent staff.
• Between 2nd May and 19th August 2025 did not take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of 19 bovine calves were met as their diet was not suitable.
• After 24th August 2025 failed to notify the Secretary of State within three days of the movement of cattle off a holding at Bath.

Three further animal welfare charges against Moxham were withdrawn.

He also admitted a charge of fraud by false representation between 19th May 2025 and 22nd May 2025. It relates to £9,000 he was paid to fund building work at a couple’s home.

At Wednesday’s hearing, District Judge Lynne Matthews ordered a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service and warned Moxham of the “significant prospect” of him being sent to prison as a result of the offences.

He will be sentenced on 22nd July and was granted bail until then on condition he is not responsible or cares for livestock.

Meanwhile Hisnain Mahmood, previously of Belvedere in Bath but now giving an address in Wallbank Court in Birmingham, denied the same eight cattle-related offences that Moxham admitted.

In addition, Mahmood denied a further three charges:

• That between 16th March and 2nd May 2025 at Bath he failed to give protection to calves not kept in buildings by giving them access to a well-drained lying area.
• On 2nd May 2025 he failed to record the death of a calf at Bath with seven days.
• On 4th August 2025 at Bath he failed to ensure that 19 calves not kept in buildings were in conditions giving them protection from adverse weather, predators and risks to their health, and that they had access to a well-drained lying area.

The judge adjourned his case to Bristol Crown Court, where Mahmood will next appear for a hearing on 12th June.

The trial is not expected to take place until sometime next year.

Mahmood was granted conditional bail.