Farmer, 64, who faced jail after the RSCPA wrongfully charged him with trying to behead a sheep was left ‘depressed’ and £90,000 out of pocket during five-year battle to clear his name

• Courton Green, 64, was cleared of seven charges  of mistreating sheep at trial

A farmer who was prosecuted by the RSPCA over unfounded animal cruelty allegations has been awarded almost £30,000 over his wrongful arrest.

Courton Green, 64, faced jail after the animal charity brought a controversial private prosecution against him, based on the testimony of an inexperienced farmhand that he had been mistreating his sheep.

A judge cleared the lifelong farmer of all wrongdoing in 2020 and condemned the RSPCA – finding that it had ‘cut corners’ during an interview following an unlawful arrest by Lincolnshire Police.

Now, after a two-year battle with the force, Mr Green has been awarded compensation of £28,311 over the arrest that made him a ‘pariah’ in his local community.

Mr Green welcomed this but last night he blasted the RSPCA for bringing a case that has hung over him for five years’, costing him his reputation and his ‘life’s work’ to cover legal bills that he is unable to recover from the charity.

Courton Green, 64, (pictured) faced jail after the animal charity brought a controversial private prosecution against him, based on the testimony of an inexperienced farmhand that he had been mistreating his sheep

Mr Green was prosecuted by the RSPCA over unfounded animal cruelty allegations has been awarded almost £30,000 over his wrongful arrest. Pictured: Sheep in the fields of farmer Courton Green, near Sleaford, Lincolnshire

Mr Green (pictured in September) was arrested at the behest of the charity in January 2018 and was interviewed by RSPCA inspector Rebecca Harper on police premises

He told the Mail: ‘I don’t need to exaggerate because I’m through the other side now, but I was left very, very depressed for a considerable period of time by this.

‘It cost me £90,000 and I’ve got very little of that back. I had been building up livestock all my life and got to about 400 cattle, every single one of those had to be sold and couldn’t be replaced.

‘I moved to a new farm, near a village with about seven or eight houses, and I wanted to make friends, be accepted and be a part of the village community. I was made a pariah as soon as they found out what I’d been arrested for.’

Clearing Mr Green of seven charges of mistreating sheep after a four-day trial, judge Peter Veits said that the case raised concerns over the charity’s role as a prosecutor. He said that it had ‘become involved in matters that could have been left to the appropriate bodies’.

Mr Green was arrested at the behest of the charity in January 2018 and was interviewed by RSPCA inspector Rebecca Harper on police premises.

Clearing Mr Green of seven charges of mistreating sheep after a four-day trial, judge Peter Veits said that the case raised concerns over the charity’s role as a prosecutor. Pictured: Sheep at Courton Green’s farm

The RSPCA had accused Mr Geen of trying to behead a sheep, which it claimed was alive, using the bucket of a tractor. The only witness was an inexperienced farmhand who was unaware that dead sheep must have their necks broken before they can be skinned for dog food. Pictured: Sheep at his farm

The charity accused him of trying to behead a sheep, which it claimed was alive, using the bucket of a tractor. The only witness was an inexperienced farmhand who was unaware that dead sheep must have their necks broken before they can be skinned for dog food. 

Mr Green, from Sleaford, Lincolnshire, has a 315-acre farm in Lincolnshire with 400 cattle and 4,000 sheep. The 64-year-old was brought up on a farm and has three daughters, two of whom are also livestock farmers.

He said: ‘When you have livestock you have to go to markets and I didn’t want, in 20 years’ time, either of my daughters to be in the market selling sheep and people pointing and saying ‘that’s Courton Green’s daughter, he got prosecuted’. I just couldn’t have that.’

It comes as a primary school teacher who was sacked after appearing in a viral video which showed her striking a horse criticised the RSPCA after she was cleared of animal cruelty last month.

After a two-year battle, Mr Green (pictured) has been awarded compensation of £28,311 over the arrest that made him a ‘pariah’ in his local community

In 2021 the charity announced that it would halt private prosecutions to prevent ‘reputational damage’ following criticism from judges in a series of high-profile court defeats. It has since brought other cases. 

Mr Green’s solicitor, Iain Gould, said: ‘Lincolnshire Police regrettably allowed themselves to be used as unthinking pawns by an animal welfare charity seeking to operate in the style of a law enforcement agency, causing considerable hardship and suffering to my client as a result.’

An RSPCA spokesman said: ‘This case was three years ago and the issue of wrongful arrest is a matter for the police and not the RSPCA.

‘There was no suggestion that the trial should not have taken place; the judge was clear that he could make no criticism of the way this case was presented in court; and the court awarded no costs to the defendant.’

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