Marian Clode, 61, was on an Easter Break in Northumberland when she was fatally attacked by the animal in 2016 (Picture: PA)
A farm business must pay more than £100,000 in a fine and costs after an escaped cow killed a teacher who was on a family walk.
Marian Clode, 61, was on an Easter break in Northumberland in 2016 when she was tossed over a gate by the cow which had repeatedly charged at her, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Otherwise fit and active, the much-loved 61-year-old primary school teacher suffered severe spinal injuries and died just three days later in hospital.
JM Nixon and Son, the company that runs the farm, admitted on Wednesday at Newcastle Crown Court to failing to ensure the safety of persons by exposing them to risks posed by the movement of livestock.
The incident took place while farmer Alistair Nixon was moving a herd of beef cattle and a group of about 15 cows broke off to make their way along a public bridleway.
Mr Nixon did not immediately follow them, assuming they would return for their calves or stop to graze.
Earlier today, Judge Time Gittins described it as a ‘salutary lesson’ on the need to plan when moving livestock ‘however usually docile’ the herd might be.
The bridleway where Marian Clode died while on a family walk in Northumberland– the escaped cow repeatedly charged at her and tossed her over a gate (Picture: PA)
He added: ‘Mrs Clode was simply not in a position to take any evasive action when one of the cows turned on her and repeatedly attacked her in the distressing way described by those witnessing it.
‘Others had to take what emergency steps they could, children being lifted at speed over fences, others catching themselves on the barbed wire as they sought shelter from the stampeding cattle.’
Judge Gittins fined the firm roughly £72,500 in addition to £34,700, in addition to a victim surcharge of several hundred pounds.
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The business said payment of the charges would require the sale of assets from the farm, for which the judge granted a 12-month grace period.
Mrs Clode’s family said in a statement after sentencing was announced: ‘In the immediate aftermath of the incident and in the months and now years which have passed, we believed Marian lost her life because of JM Nixon and Son’s failure to implement even the most basic safe systems of work.
‘Marian’s death was completely avoidable, which makes coming to terms with our loss even more difficult.’
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Marian Clode, 61, was on an Easter Break in Northumberland when she was fatally attacked by the animal in 2016.
