Court orders cattle market owners to pay £82,000 after runaway cow tramples pensioner to death

Huw Evans,a 75-year-old retired council worker,was crossing a road when he was rammed by the escaped cow

Credit: Wales News Service

The directors of a cattle market have been ordered to pay more than £82,000 in costs and fines after a runaway cow trampled a pensioner to death.

Huw Evans,died in hospital from multiple injuries after being trampled by the cow that had escaped from Whitland livestock market in Carmarthenshire in Nov 2022.

David Arwel Thomas from JJ Morris Limited,which runs the market,was fined £75,000 after pleading guilty at Llanelli magistrates’ court to failing in its health,safety and welfare duty to an employee,and failing in the firm’s duty to the safety of the wider public.

He was ordered to pay £5,047 costs and a £2,000 surcharge along with John Nicholas,the firm’s co-director.

Shot by police

The nine-year-old red Limousin cross breed had charged an employee at the site,injuring the man’s leg,before ramming into Mr Evans as he crossed the road.

The cow then strayed on to railway lines,forcing train operators to suspend services,before it was shot by police.

Mr Evans was airlifted to the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff but died from his injuries six days later.

Mr Evans was airlifted to hospital in Cardiff from Whitland livestock market in Carmarthenshire

Credit: Wales News Service

In a victim impact statement read to the court his son Dafydd John Evans said he had lost his “best friend” and that he “missed him terribly,” adding that he had been “taken too soon”.

Rhys Hughes,an inspector with the Health and Safety Executive,said in a statement: “This tragic incident was foreseeable and preventable.

“The risk posed by cattle escaping from the livestock mart should have been identified,and effective control measures implemented.

“The case highlights the importance of following industry guidance,which is readily accessible and outlines the requirements to safely manage cattle.”