A CHESHIRE farmer’s entire herd of 560 cattle could be slaughtered by Government officials. David Dobbin last week pleaded guilty to three offences of illegally moving cattle at a previous farm in Nottinghamshire. But the 43-year-old says he has been subjected to an 18-month “witch hunt” and is now fighting to save his current farm in Backford, near Chester, and his livelihood. “My business has ground to a halt and financially, I am virtually ruined.” he said. Officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) descended on Chorlton Lodge Farm on Wednesday last week and removed all of his cows. But less than an hour before they were due to be destroyed on Friday, Mr Dobbin’s lawyers secured an injunction to save them. Next week, Defra will challenge the injunction at London’s High Court, claiming that Mr Dobbin’s cattle have serious implications for the “protection of the human food chain”. They have accused Mr Dobbin of contravening strict cattle identification and movement regulations. Mr Dobbin added: “I was devastated when I received the order and so relieved when the injunction was secured. The last 18 months have been horrendous, particularly the last week.” Last Thursday, Mr Dobbin pleaded guilty to three similar charges at Worksop Magistrates’ Court after he was accused of failing to carry out routine tuberculosis testing on his herd at a farm in Darlton near Newark in March 2005. A rigorous testing and slaughter programme has been implemented by Defra to stop the spread of bovine TB, a serious cattle disease which can also affect humans, pets and some wildlife. But Mr Dobbin’s lawyers say the farmer pleaded guilty “reluctantly” and Defra had waged a long campaign against him. Senior partner of Merseyside firm Kirwans Solicitors, David Kirwan, says since investigations into Mr Dobbin’s Chester farm began in the summer of 2005, no charges have been brought against him. Mr Kirwan who dramatically secured the injunction with minutes to spare on Friday, said: “Last week’s court case relate to offences in March 2005 and his previous farm in Nottinghamshire. “Mr Dobbin managed to get the number of charges reduced to three and reluctantly pleaded guilty. “In an ideal world he would have gone to court to put his case but could not get away from his 170-acre farm in Cheshire. “His more immediate concern last week was fighting to save his entire herd from being slaughtered. He is at the end of his tether.” Defra served a two-day notice on Mr Dobbin last week to provide individual DNA information on each of herd or they would be slaughtered on Friday. Mr Kirwan said: “Defra knew that it would be impossible for Mr Dobbin to comply in such a short space of time because they were insisting on DNA evidence of identification. “How on earth could Mr Dobbin meet their demands when Defra had already unlawfully seized his cattle and taken them to a secret location ready for slaughter? “Indeed, nowhere in the regulations does it state that DNA evidence is the only acceptable means of identification.” Mr Kirwan continued: “I am utterly appalled by the cruel and callous way Government officials have treated a hard-working farmer like Mr Dobbin who struggles to make a living at the best of times. “These officials at Defra have driven a coach and horses through the Human Rights Act in an extraordinarily vindictive attempt to crucify Mr Dobbin and his family.” Mr Kirwan said he was seeking a Judicial Review of the actions of Defra and Trading Standards. A spokesman for Defra saidsaid: “The situation found on the farm by investigating authorities has revealed behaviour that could have had serious implications for the protection of the human food chain. “Accordingly, the authorities have taken action to prevent this risk.” jessocashaughnessy | 
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