Man sentenced after he punched, kicked cow

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A Reefton man who punched and kicked a cow at the Cape Foulwind dairy farm where he worked has been sentenced to community detention and community work.

Cameron George Intemann Hurst, 21, pleaded guilty to two charges of ill treatment of animals between 2012 and 2013 following a sentence indication in Westport District Court late last year.

At that time the court heard Hurst and his manager took turns shooting a cow in the leg in a deliberate act of cruelty before it was euthanised.

They also pulled the cow to the ground by its tail and punched and kicked it.

Hurst had apparently commented that he liked that time of year because he "got to beat the cows".

Defending, Marcus Zintl yesterday said the sentence indication had taken into account Hurst's immaturity and naivety and the fact that he'd been influenced by an older boss.

A pre-sentence report said Hurst was at a low risk of re-offending. He'd continued his work in the dairy industry and there had been no suggestion of further offending.

Crown prosecutor Anselm Williams said the case had been well argued at the sentence indication hearing. He believed the community detention sentence signalled was inadequate given the seriousness of the offending.

Judge Noel Walsh said the sentence indication signalled Hurst would be sentenced to community detention and community work and ordered to pay reparations. It said Hurst would not to be prohibited from being involved in the dairy industry.

Probation said Hurst was at a low risk of reoffending and it was his first conviction.

Judge Walsh sentenced him to four months' community detention, with a curfew of 7pm to 4am each day, and to 200 hours' community work. He would pay reparations of $540.58 to Landcorp.