Farmer jailed for stealing hundreds of sheep

A farmer has been jailed for stealing hundreds of sheep over a seven-year period

Peter Parker, 60, of The Clays, Brant Broughton, Lincolnshire, was seen on CCTV arriving at livestock markets late at night with a lorry load of sheep, which he would swap for other sheep which were higher quality than his own.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he targeted Newark Livestock Market, Hereford Livestock Market and Penrith and District Farmers Mart.

He was found guilty of stealing and swapping sheep at livestock markets across England between 2016 and 2023 and was jailed for four-and-a-half years on Friday.

He was prosecuted joinly by Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards, West Mercia Police and Cumbria Police.

Councillor Dawn Justice, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council, said Parker had "undermined animal welfare, disease control and trust in the livestock industry."

The council said as well as swapping sheep over, Paker simply stole sheep from livestock markets.

In summer 2017, Parker stole almost 650 sheep from the Newark market, worth at least £23,000.

He stole a further 50 sheep from Penrith and 23 from Hereford livestock markets.

The council said Parker was also found guilty of two regulatory offences of failing to notify the relevant authorities of the movement or death of cattle, as well as eight further offences under schedule 51 of Crime and Disorder Act 1988.

These latter offences included failures to properly identify sheep and causing unnecessary suffering.

The council said their trading standards officers took animal welfare and disease control very seriously.

Justice said the sentencing was "an excellent result" and sent a strong message.

"We will not tolerate livestock theft or breaches of the legal requirements that are in place to protect animal and public health," she said.

Martin Beck, from the National Rural Crime Unit, said livestock theft was a serious issue.

"This conviction sends a clear message that the police and enforcement partners will pursue those who are involved rural crime.

"We will find you and we will prosecute you," he warned.

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