01/03/2004

Cornish farmer jailed for attack on animal inspection team

A Cornish farmer who hurled a vet and an animal health inspector into a slurry pit has been jailed for two years.

In January this year, farmer Roger Baker (61) of Ventongimps near Truro was found guilty of attacking animal health inspector Jonathan McCullouch and vet Susan Potter as they made a video of animals on the farm.

Though the jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a second charge, that of making a threat to kill, they found Baker guilty on charges of attacking the veterinary inspection team.

Sentencing, Judge Stephen O'Malley said that the incident had been a "deliberate violent attack".

Mr McCulloch was dragged across the yard towards a slurry pit, and the court heard how Baker had attacked Mrs Potter when she went to the aid of her colleague. She described how she had been held under the slurry for a time and had been forced to hold her breath.

Baker, a sheep farmer, has previous convictions for animal cruelty and has been jailed twice. In 1999, he was banned from keeping livestock.

The RPCA dubbed him the "cruellest farmer" that they had dealt with.

(SP)

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