A livestock thief who targeted livestock markets across England, including Penrith and District Farmers' Mart, has been jailed for four and a half years following a complex multi-agency investigation.
Peter Parker, 60, of The Clays, Brant Broughton, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court in May after being found guilty of a series of livestock thefts committed over a number of years.
The court heard that between 2016 and 2023, Parker targeted Newark Livestock Market, Hereford Livestock Market and Penrith and District Farmers' Mart. Using a lorry, he would arrive at markets late at night and either swap his own lower-quality sheep for more valuable animals or simply steal sheep outright.
Investigators found Parker was responsible for stealing almost 650 sheep worth at least £23,000 from Newark Livestock Market during the summer of 2017. He also stole 50 sheep from Penrith and a further 23 sheep from Hereford. Some of the offences were committed while Parker was already on bail.
The investigation was led by Cumbria Police's Rural Crime Team alongside Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards, with support from the National Rural Crime Unit as part of Operation Foldyard, the national response to livestock theft.
As well as the theft offences, Parker pleaded guilty to two regulatory offences relating to failing to notify the relevant authorities about cattle movements and deaths. The case also highlighted repeated breaches of animal identification and traceability rules, with investigators warning that such offending can undermine disease control measures and the integrity of the food supply chain.
Sergeant Amanda McKirdy of Cumbria Police's Rural Crime Team described the investigation as one of the most complex the team had undertaken, involving several police forces and partner agencies working together across county boundaries. She said Parker had shown a complete disregard for the law and for the regulations designed to protect animal health and the food chain, adding that Cumbria Police remains committed to pursuing those who target the county's farming community.
Chris Dodds, Executive Secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association, welcomed the sentence, saying the industry depends on honesty and trust and that markets will continue to work closely with police to ensure those who abuse that trust are brought before the courts.
Emma Brass, Senior Manager for Public Protection at Westmorland and Furness Council, said livestock traceability is fundamental to protecting animal health, food safety and consumer confidence. She said interfering with animal identification systems puts both the agricultural industry and the wider public at risk, making it essential that offences of this nature are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
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