Demo farmer found guilty
A farmer who staged a six-hour roof-top protest at this year's Royal Welsh Show has been found guilty of causing harassment, alarm or distress.
James Powell, 54, of Llwyncellyn Farm, Llangynidr, was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 costs after being convicted at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court.
The court heard that he climbed onto the the National Farmers Union building at the agricultural show on July 24. John Gwillam, office manager of the NFU building at the showground, said: "He had hung a banner from the top of the building."
Karen Kirkwood, prosecuting, said the text of the banner was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Powell, who defended himself, admitted the sign may have caused embarrassment for the NFU, but said it was a peaceful protest.
Gareth Price, presiding magistrate, said: "We find that when you wrote the text on the banner you intended it to be interpreted as a swear word and you were aware it would cause harassment, alarm or distress."
