Farmer spared jail over killer cow herd
A FARMER whose cows trampled a man to death after he repeatedly failed to protect walkers was spared prison yesterday.
Brian Godwin, 83, ignored orders to put up electric fences or warning signs following at least four previous attacks on people crossing his land.
Tragedy struck when father-of-two Mike Porter, 66, was stamped on by a herd of 30 beef cows on a public footpath.
Retired university lecturer Mr Porter, from Edinburgh, was with his brother and two dogs.
He died of internal bleeding and a hoof mark was found on his chest. His brother also sustained serious injuries in the field near Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, in May 2013.
An inquest jury concluded Mr Porter’s death was an accident.
But in a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive, Godwin admitted breaching his duty of controlling livestock. He was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £30,000 costs.
Judge Tim Mousley QC told him: “You could have prevented his untimely death. You blatantly failed to ensure the safety of people on your land.
“It led to the terrible death of a man. Mike Porter was a devoted family man.”