CONVICTED (2015) | farmer Courton R Green, born c. 1959, of Laughton Lodge, Laughton, Sleaford NG34 0HE – left sheep to die in a muddy marsh. Green of Lodge Farm in Laughton, Lincolnshire, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and leaving a number of dead sheep stuck in mud. The offence took place in two fields at Surfleet Marsh in February 2014. Green was sentenced on 10 September 2015 at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court. Cruel Courton Green left animals on his farm to suffer and die The court heard how in February 2014, Green had kept hundreds of sheep in the two fields. A number of the sheep had got stuck, some for several days, and some even died in the thick mud. Inspector Sarah Chambers from the RSPCA told the court how she had expected to see a sheep with its feet stuck in the mud when she was called to attend. But she described how she saw a sheep’s head sticking out of the ground instead. She also said there were several dead sheep in the same field. Dee Stockley, the lead investigating officer from Lincolnshire Trading Standards, also gave evidence. Ms Stockley said several of the sheep were exhausted from their efforts to free themselves. Speaking after the sentencing, she said: “The conditions these sheep were kept in fell well below acceptable welfare standards. “Mr Green was given lots of advice and a number of opportunities to demonstrate that he would comply with the requirements of the animal welfare legislation and achieve the necessary standards of care.” She added: “He, however, failed to do so and this left us no alternative but to bring this case to court. “The sends a clear message to those who do not meet basic animal welfare needs – we will continue to take all necessary action to ensure that these acceptable standards of animal care are met.” Sentencing | fines and costs totalling £18,550. Farmers Weekly Update | November 2023 Green has received £20,000 in compensation after he was cleared of further animal cruelty charges in 2018 following a four-day trial in 2020. The RSPCA investigated Green over a short video taken on a phone belonging to a farmhand, who claimed it showed Green using a tractor to ‘behead’ a sick sheep. Green maintained that the sheep was already dead and claimed that he broke the animal’s neck so he could butcher the carcass for dog food. Judge Peter Veits expressed concerns about the farmhand’s evidence at Lincoln Magistrates Court in February 2020 and said the case raised questions about the RSPCA’s role as a prosecutor. He found that Green was arrested unlawfully and that the RSPCA had “cut corners” in an interview with him. Green, who has a flock of 3,000 sheep and 400 cattle, was cleared of any wrongdoing and all charges against him were dropped. A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “Green has a previous conviction from 2015 for causing unnecessary suffering to animals after some of his sheep got stuck in mud in 2014 and died.” He said: “I should have gone out to get them out, but I didn’t. It was dark, I have a very big flock to think about and I didn’t have much help on hand at the time. I should have gone though.” Telegraph Daily Mail Iain Gould (blog)