Farmer jailed for plunging vet in slurry

A farmer was jailed for two years today for plunging a vet into a pit of slurry and attacking an animal health inspector.

Roger Baker, 61, dubbed the "cruellest farmer in Britain" by the RSPCA, had been found guilty of attacking official Jonathan McCulloch and government vet Susan Potter on his land at Ventongimps, near Truro, Cornwall.

Baker, who has convictions for animal cruelty spanning 30 years, had denied attacking the officials.

Last month a jury at Taunton Crown Court found him guilty of affray over the attack on Mr McCulloch, 27, who works for Cornwall County Council, and Ms Potter, 46.

Sentencing Mr Baker today, Judge Stephen O'Malley described the incident on 25 February last year as a "deliberate and violent attack" which was a repeat of "violent behaviour".

The jury at Taunton Crown Court had last month failed to reach a majority verdict on a second charge of making a threat to kill.

That charge was left to lie on file at request of counsel for the Crown, Michael Brabin QC.