COURTON GREEN FROM SLEAFORD CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY AT LINCOLN MAGISTRATES’ COURT

In a disturbing case that has once again cast a shadow over animal welfare standards in Lincolnshire, Courton Green, a farmer residing in Laughton Lodge, Laughton, near Sleaford, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and neglecting the welfare of his sheep. The incident, which took place in February 2014, involved the neglect of hundreds of sheep kept in two fields at Surfleet Marsh, a location within the Sleaford area.

According to court proceedings, Green’s farm, known as Lodge Farm, was the scene of a tragic neglect that resulted in several sheep becoming trapped in the muddy terrain of the fields. Some of these animals remained stuck for days, unable to free themselves from the thick, treacherous mud, ultimately leading to their deaths. The case was brought to light during a court hearing held on 10 September 2015 at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court, where Green was held accountable for his actions.

Inspector Sarah Chambers, representing the RSPCA, provided testimony that painted a grim picture of the conditions on Green’s farm. She recounted her visit to the fields, where she anticipated seeing a sheep with its feet ensnared in the mud. Instead, she was shocked to find a sheep’s head protruding from the ground, indicating the animal had been trapped and left to die. She also observed multiple carcasses of dead sheep scattered across the field, underscoring the severity of the neglect.

Dee Stockley, the lead investigator from Lincolnshire Trading Standards, also testified, highlighting that many of the sheep appeared exhausted from their futile attempts to escape the muddy trap. She emphasized that the conditions in which these animals were kept were far below acceptable welfare standards. Following the hearing, she stated, “The conditions these sheep were kept in fell well below acceptable welfare standards. Mr Green was given numerous warnings and opportunities to improve the situation and demonstrate compliance with animal welfare legislation. Unfortunately, he failed to do so, leaving us with no choice but to pursue legal action.”

As a result of the case, Green was sentenced to pay fines and costs totaling £18,550. The court’s decision sends a clear message that neglecting basic animal welfare needs will not be tolerated, and authorities remain committed to enforcing standards to protect animals from suffering.

In a related development, Green was later involved in a separate legal case in 2018, which was resolved in his favor after a four-day trial held in 2020. He was cleared of further animal cruelty charges and received a compensation of £20,000. The case stemmed from a short video recorded by a farmhand, which purportedly showed Green using a tractor to ‘behead’ a sick sheep. Green maintained that the sheep was already dead when he broke its neck to prepare it for dog food, asserting that the footage was misinterpreted.

Judge Peter Veits expressed concerns about the reliability of the farmhand’s evidence and questioned the RSPCA’s prosecutorial role in the case. He concluded that Green’s arrest was unlawful and that the RSPCA had “cut corners” during the investigation. Consequently, all charges against Green were dropped, and he was declared innocent of the allegations.

Despite his acquittal, the RSPCA’s spokesperson reiterated Green’s previous conviction from 2015, emphasizing that he had caused unnecessary suffering to animals when some of his sheep became trapped in mud and died. The spokesperson acknowledged that Green admitted to neglecting to assist the animals, citing darkness, the size of his flock, and limited help as reasons for his inaction, but stressed that he should have taken responsibility at the time.

This case underscores ongoing concerns about animal welfare practices within certain farming operations in Lincolnshire, and the authorities’ resolve to pursue justice for animals suffering due to neglect or cruelty.