The director of the live animal export company at the centre of an incident in 2012, which led to the temporary suspension of live exports from Ramsgate port has been handed a suspended sentence.

Thomas Lomas, director of Channel Livestock, was given a six month suspended prison sentence my magistrates in Dover for causing unnecessary suffering to animals. His company was fined £5,000 and he himself was charged £4,000, with an additional £10,000 in costs.

Two French lorry drivers implicated in the incident, Gerard Andre and Dimitri Dessaud, were also found guilty in their absence. Sentencing was adjourned until March in order for them to make personal representations in court.

Kent Trading Standards brought the prosecution against the defendants following a report published by the Animal Health and Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) last year.

On 12th September 2012, 40 animals were killed after it was found they were too injured to travel during an inspection at Ramsgate Port. In a separate incident, the floor of a loading area collapsed while animals were being taken off a lorry, plunging six sheep into the water. Four were rescued by RSPA officers, though two drowned. The incident drew national attention to the controversial live exports trade and raised questions about the suitability of Ramsgate Port.

RSPCA welcomed the ruling on Thursday. Chief Executive Gavin Grant commented, "The RSPCA is pleased that justice has now been done and that the horrific nature of this trade has been exposed. It's time this dire trade was examined by Parliament. The live export trade is inherently cruel and we will redouble our efforts to stop it. If meat needs to go to the Continent then it should be on the hook, not on the hoof."

He continued, "The 40 sheep that died that day were badly let down by all those responsible for them. They were loaded into a dangerous lorry and trapped their legs causing broken and dislocated bones. When vets examined the flock they discovered many more not fit to travel because they were suffering from painful conditions such as foot rot."