'It nearly drove me to suicide' admits Milton Keynes councillor prosecuted by his own council

Peter Geary represents the Olney & Rural ward on Milton Keynes City Council, whose officers today (Wednesday August 12) led a case against him at MK Magistrates Court.

Cllr Geary is also a farmer, raising beef cattle on land at Petsoe End near Emberton, and the very rare charges against him concerned his record-keeping of his animals.

An investigation by the council’s animal health officer Rachel Boddy in 2025 found he failed to register the birth of cattle, an action required under Schedule 2 of the Cattle Identification Regulations 2007, and that he failed to apply an animal ear tag within a specified period.

“As far as the general public is concerned, these charges are petty and carry no risk to anyone…. I feel the whole thing was a political attempt to humiliate me,” claimed Cllr Geary, who rents the field in question from the family of another council officer.

As a result of the council’s investigation, 15 healthy bullocks had to be shot – an action that outraged many people in Olney.

Cllr Geary pleaded guilty to the two charges and was fined a total of £490 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs to cover the council’s expenses.

Two further charges, both concerning official documentation of animals, were dropped by the prosecution.

“I’m just relieved it is over,” said Cllr Geary afterwards. “The whole thing has been awful and my mental health has suffered. It has almost driven me to the verge of suicide.”

He described the charges as petty but admits his record keeping was not perfect due to his dyslexia. At the time the offences covered, his mother had just died and he was arranging the funeral, the court heard.

"I was wrong – my records were not good enough. But normally this would be dealt with by a simple fixed penalty notice, not a full-blown prosecution,” he said.

Cllr Geary has served for 18 years on MK Council and plans to continue.

"I like to think I’ve done some good for local people over the years. I don’t want to give up, despite what the council has done to me,” he said.

A spokesperson for MK City Council said: "No one is above the law. These are serious offences, and the court's verdict reflects that. The regulations in place are there to protect animal and public health, including safeguarding against diseases such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). We will not hesitate to take action where necessary, and this outcome demonstrates our commitment to enforcing these important safeguards and holding offenders to account."

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