Gwlad councillor’s ‘suffering’ animals seized

Richard Youle – Local Democracy Reporter

Swansea Council has taken possession of 13 goats and 7 pigs belonging to a political campaigner and community councillor.

A district judge ordered that the animals belonging to David Wayne Erasmus, a member of pro-Welsh independence party Gwlad, be handed over to the local authority after hearing evidence that they were suffering and were likely to continue to suffer.

A hearing took place on August 4 at Swansea Magistrates Court, where district judge Chris James, heard the evidence of Geraint Rhys Harries, Paul Jones, Michelle Morgan, Sian Davies, Christopher Williams, Marek Barosz, Dr Niamh Moore and Elias Toledo Benito.

The judge was satisfied that the 13 goats and 7 pigs found at fields off Bolgoed Road, Pontarddulais, on June 29 were suffering and likely to continue to suffer.

He ordered that possession of the animals be given to Geraint Rhys Harries, of Swansea Council, and that the animals be sold/disposed of otherwise than by sale.

The council had brought the civil action to gain possession of the goats and pigs.

Mr Erasmus, 63, of Arlan Gwili, Hendy, near Pontarddulais, is appealing the decision.

Appeal papers have been submitted to Swansea Crown Court.

Mr Erasmus became a Grovesend and Waungron community councillor on August 3, and contested a Penllergaer Community Council by-election on August 31, coming second out of two candidates.