A PROMINENT West Country farmer was caught buying half price treatments for his sheep and cattle from an illegal web-based supplier.

Willie Cleave, who farms sheep and cattle at a string of farms in Devon and Cornwall, carried on buying the cheap veterinary products even after he had been raided by Defra officials.

He was ordered to pay fines and costs of more than £10,000 despite presenting a Judge at Exeter Crown Court with accounts which calculated his annual income as being just £16,000.

Cleave, aged 55, came to fame during the Foot and Mouth crisis of 2001 when he was blamed for bringing the virus to the region by transporting a truck load of sheep to his farm from the North East.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.