Dairy Farmer Hit with £10K Fine and Suspended Jail for Slurry Spill
A 70-year-old dairy farmer from Sampford Arundel has been slapped with a £10,000 costs bill and a 14-week suspended prison sentence. David Bartlett was caught letting filthy slurry flood into a local stream again and again.
Slurry Spill Pollutes Westford Stream
Bartlett appeared at Taunton Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to three pollution offences. The Environment Agency brought the case after long-term slurry runoff damaged the Westford stream, which feeds into the River Tone. The court heard Bartlett ignored multiple warnings to clean up his act.
In October 2022, Environment Agency officers found sewage fungus and pollution-loving bloodworms in the stream near Bartlett’s farm, clear signs of toxic contamination. They traced the mess to an overflowing underground slurry tank at Upcott Dairy Farm. Bartlett was using a crude pipe to dump slurry in one spot, causing serious spillages into the field and the nearby watercourse.
Severe Environmental Damage Confirmed
Investigators found slurry pumped onto sodden land with no crop benefit, some layers several inches thick. A biologist’s survey confirmed repeated, long-lasting pollution events had smashed the stream’s health.
Bartlett blamed others, including his neighbour and local authorities, denying he intentionally pumped slurry into the water. But the court found his excuses weak given the history.
Judge Slams Farmer for Ignoring Warnings
District Judge Brereton highlighted Bartlett’s past strikes, poor checks, and failure to upgrade his slurry storage despite receiving government funds.
David Womack, from the Environment Agency, said: “This farmer has caused numerous pollution incidents over the years and refused to improve his slurry storage. We hope Mr Bartlett will now cooperate with us to fix Upcott Dairy Farm’s facilities. If he doesn’t, we will take stronger action to stop further pollution.”
