A FARMER has been fined for his part in a 'destructive rampage' at a farm in Whixall.

Harry Dalton, 21, from Norton, Shifnal, appeared in Telford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, December 2, for trial charged with criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 but changed his plea on the morning of the hearing.

Simon Jordan, 35 and of Oldbury Wells, Bridgnorth was also due for trial on the same day in relation to the same incident but was unable to attend court in person as he was quarantining after visiting Turkey.

Jordan was charged with two counts of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and pleaded guilty to both.

In April 2020, John Huxley, of Whixall, ordered feed to the value of £1,600 from L. H. Dalton and Son, with payment due on delivery.

The payment was not made and Mr Huxley failed to meet payment deadlines.

On April 22, at around 5.30pm, Mr Huxley was on the farm when he saw Jordan and Dalton in a Mitsubishi L200 pickup truck. The court heard Mr Huxley's wife and son, Tracey and Jack Huxley, confronted the pair.

Jordan then tried to connect a trailer belonging to Mr Huxley to the pickup truck.

Mr Huxley is accused in response of lowering the bucket of a digger and tipping over the pickup with Dalton, his sister and their friend inside. This allegation is currently the subject of a separate case.

Dalton then joined Jordan in seeking retribution, smashing the window of a Mitsubishi Shogun, with Jordan smashing the windows of a Massey Ferguson tractor and a Toyota Land Cruiser, collectively causing around £5,294 worth of damage.

The Huxley’s house was also damaged in the incident.

"The male was on a destructive rampage," said Mrs Huxley in her victim impact statement.

"The incident has left me feeling very scared. It has caused significant damage to the farm."

Defending Dalton, Sarah Cooper said there was 'a lot of background' to the case and said the incident was out of character.

"I would hope this is Dalton's last appearance in court," said Ms Cooper.

"It is possible he saw a red mist – it was totally out of character.

"Given the exceptional background, I would suggest you deal with Dalton by way of a conditional discharge.”

Chairman of the magistrates bench, Brian Welti, ordered Dalton to pay a share of the damages to Mr Huxley's vehicles.

"We consider the evidence before us, and you will be fined £660, £66 in victim surcharges and court costs of £310, for a total of £1,036.

"We will also make a compensation order of £350, bringing the total to £1,386."

As Jordan was unable to attend he will be sentenced on January 7.