Wiltshire landowner and former High Sheriff Sir Charles Hobhouse has been fined after admitting safety failings at his farm. Hobhouse, of Monkton Farleigh, pleaded guilty to two offences of failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Bristol Crown Court heard today (June 8) the charges relate to two incidents in June and August, 2021, when people walking across fields on the Monkton Farleigh estate were trampled by the same herd of cattle, which had calves.
The Honourable Mr Justice Saini fined him £15,000 with £8,000 prosecution costs. He told Hobhouse: "I accept you have ultimate responsibility but the day-to-day running was by you farm manager. At the time you were engaged in important public duty."
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Alistair Haggerty, prosecuting, said around 1.30pm on June 5, 2021, when Michael and Joanne Booley and their friend Josian Gauld took their three dogs over a public right of way on the estate. Mr Haggerty said that as they headed across a triangular field, towards Monkton Farleigh, they went under an electric fence and suddenly cattle came towards them at speed.
Mrs Booley was struck in the chest and thrown in the air before being trampled on in a "frenzied and intense attack", the court heard. The walkers crossed back under the electric fence, but Mrs Booley sustained a fractured right shoulder, suspected broken ribs, chest pains and injury to her right hand and wrist.
Mr Haggerty said that, following the incident, a Notice of Contravention was sent to Hobhouse highlighting no assessement of risk to the public and no adequate precautions to contain risk. Actions were suggested and Hobhouse responded with measures taken to reduce risk.
However, on on August 11, 2021, the same herd was moved to an area called The Avenue. Hobhouse was unaware of the move, the court heard.
Around 6am on August 19 local builder James Johnson was running/walking his dog across the familiar right of way when cattle charged him and he climbed a tree, but fell, and was trampled. The court heard he thought he would be killed but managed to escape after striking a cow and darting through a gap.
Mr Johnson sustained a cut head, dislocated both shoulders, suffered three broken ribs and three snapped vertebrae. After that incident the farm manager bought £700 of electric fencing and moved the herd to a field with no public access.
Malcolm Gallaway, defending, said: "Sir Charles is very keen I start with an unreserved apology to the members of the public who were injured. He is genuine in that remorse. He cares very much about the area in which he lives and those coming to visit or who live in the countryside around him. They did nothing wrong other than walk in the countryside."
Mr Gallaway said the estate had been in his client's family since 1873. He stressed no incidents like this had happened before and people were welcome to cross the rights of way.
The court heard in 2021 Hobhouse was appointed High Sheriff of Wiltshire and undertook daily tasks in the role of that office. His duties took him to Devizes, Swindon, Bath and Salisbury and, before the second trampling, he was making daily visits around both Wiltshire and Hampshire.
Mr Gallaway said Hobhouse was not aware of the decision to move the herd in question into The Avenue. Mr Gallaway said: "He was exceptionally busy at that time. He takes responsibility for that decision."
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