Farmer 'held vet's head in slurry'

The officials were investigating concerns about Mr Baker's animals

An angry Cornish farmer threatened to kill an animal health inspector and held a female vet's face under inches of slurry where she could not breathe, a court heard on Wednesday.

Roger Baker, 61, ran at inspector Jonathan McCulloch and government vet Susan Potter during a visit to his farm at Ventongimps, near Truro in Cornwall, last year, Taunton Crown Court was told.

The court heard that Mr Baker, who farmed two plots of land near the village, appeared "from nowhere" on 25 February to attack the two officials in his slurry-filled farmyard.

He first grabbed Mr McCulloch, who works for Cornwall County Council, dragged him across the yard by his overalls into the slurry pit, the jury of eight men and four women were told.

Grabbed by neck

As Mr McCulloch shouted for help, Mrs Potter, who was attempting to capture conditions on the farm on her video camera, stopped filming, the jury heard.

She waded in to try to rescue Mr McCulloch, but was then attacked herself, the court was told.

Prosecuting barrister Michael Brabin QC said: "Mr McCulloch was grabbed by the neck, he was manhandled and Mr Baker then tried to drag him to the centre of the mire.

"Mrs Potter turned off the video camera at that point and went to help. As she did so, Mr Baker turned his attention from Mr McCulloch to Mrs Potter.

"He grabbed her by the neck and pulled her to the ground and dragged her to the mire and tried to drown her, or that was her impression.

Threats denied

"He had his hand against her face and pushed her into the slurry."

She was covered in the wet substance, he said, a combination of mud, animal faeces and urine.

It was then, the prosecution alleges, that Mr Baker shouted to Mr McCulloch: "I am going to kill you as well."

Mr Baker, who lives in a caravan on his land, denies making threats to kill Mr McCulloch on 25 February and also denies a second charge of affray.

The court was told how the two officials were on Mr Baker's premises after a call from a concerned member of the public who feared Mr Baker's animals were being maltreated.

The case continues.