A FARMER who beat 2,500 other applicants to win a unique tenancy for only £1 a year has appeared in court to face 20 charges.

Daniel Jones, 40, hit the headlines around the world in 2016 when he was named as the tenant of the National Trust-owned Parc Farm on the Great Orme headland in Llandudno.

The 2,500 applications were eventually whittled down to seven and he was chosen after presenting his business plans and demonstrating his shepherding skills.

But today (Tuesday) he appeared before Llandudno magistrates on 20 charges, some relating to alleged offences soon after he moved into the 145-acre farm.

The alleged offences include failing to dispose of five sheep carcasses which had died on the farm, failing to ensure that birds or animals did not have access to the bodies, failing to notify the authorities of sheep he had received on the farm from various other locations– charges brought under the Animal Health Act 1981 – and failing to keep an up-to-date register and inventory of the animals.

Two charges relate to the movement of sheep from Parc Farm which had been moved onto the premises during the previous six days.

The final allegation is that on January 31 this year he obstructed a person authorized under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Wales Regulations.

Jones pleaded not guilty to all the charges and opted for the cases to be heard in the lower court instead of Crown Court.

His solicitor David Kirwan told the court : “ This is an important case in terms of the publicity the trial is likely to attract.”

He said his client had appeared several times on TV since gaining the tenancy.

He said the trial would probably last 3-5 days, with the prosecution calling three witnesses and the defence at least 10, who would include an expert witness whose statement had not yet been received.

The Bench agreed that the case should be handled by District Judge Gwyn Jones who will hold a pre-trial hearing on January 28.