A 53-year-old Warwick man was fined $800 and has been prohibited from owning or caring for animals for the next three years after having been found guilty of cruelty to 28 rabbits.

Dr. Roy Phillip Williams, of Rock Valley Road, was handed the fine yesterday by Magistrate William Francis in after he pleaded guilty to failing to provide food and water for the rabbits.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines asked for the maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and that the animals be handed over to the S.P.C.A. He also asked Mr. Francis to prohibit Williams for caring for any animals for the next two years.

The court heard that on November 20 of last year, at Wilmont's farm in Warwick, officials from the S.P.C.A arrived and found the rabbits being held in eighteen pens. S.P.C.A. inspector Charles Whitehead discovered that seven of the rabbits were dead and in various stages of decomposition. He said the remaining ones were left in filthy conditions with faeces all about them and no water.

"The owner has a responsibility to take care of them," said Mr. Caines. "Dr. Williams is a scholar."

Williams was represented in court by attorney Peter Farge who told the court that Williams had entrusted someone else to take care of the animals and had been told that the rabbits had been cared for.

Farge also produced for the courts a receipt showing that Williams had purchased 5,000 pounds of feed in May of last year and said that it should have taken care of them. He told Mr. Francis that the animals were not as badly taken care of as the court heard.

Magistrate Francis said: "I'm old enough to remember when everyone had a chicken coop. If you got eggs you got them from the chicken coop. If you take it on (owning animals), make sure you have the time and facilities."

"If you do take it on and don't live up, then the courts are here to take care of you."

In sentencing Williams, Mr. Francis said: "I give you the benefit of the doubt that you had good intentions, you just got busy."

Calling the matter serious, Mr. Francis fined Williams $800 or 60 days in prison. He also ordered that Williams not be able to own or take care of any animals for the next three years. The animals were ordered into the custody of the S.P.C.A.