A FARMER has been sentenced for safety breaches after an 83-year-old man was fatally attacked and his wife seriously injured by cattle at Chapel-le-Dale.

Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how on May 30, 2020, David Tinniswood and his wife were attacked by cattle whilst following a public right of way across Ivescar Farm at Chapel-le-Dale.

An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive found that the couple were walking on a footpath that passed through the yard at Ivescar Farm. They were following a right of way that runs from the farm down to the road.

The couple were accompanied by two border terriers. The couple were attacked by cattle that were grazing in the field at the time with calves at foot. The cattle attacked the 83-year-old man who was trampled and pronounced dead at the scene. His wife sustained serious injuries.

Christopher Paul Sharpe, partner in J H Sharp and Son, of Ivescar Farm, Chapel le Dale, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He received a prison sentence of 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months. He was fined a total of £878 and was ordered to pay £7,820.30 in court costs.

Speaking after the hearing Health and Safety Executive inspector Julian Franklin said: “A number of measures could have been taken to safeguard walkers using the path, while cattle and calves were grazing in that field.

“Firstly, not using that field for cattle and calves. Most farmers will have other groups of stock that can graze fields containing rights of way, so can reduce the risk of incidents by putting sheep in them, or they could take fodder crops from them. Cattle with calves can be put in fields without rights of way, away from members of the public, or can be segregated from walkers.

“Farmers should ensure they take all reasonably practicable precautions to protect walkers on public rights of way, especially when they are grazing cows and calves together, or bulls are present.”

The Health and Safety Executive is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It prevents work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.

More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: Cattle and public access in England and Wales (hse.gov.uk)