'Cops used my bull as target practice' claims angry farmer

A FURIOUS farmer claims police sharp shooters used his prize bull Billy "as target practice" when they shot the animal dead.

Furious farmer Philip Marley  has made an official complaint to North Yorkshire police Furious farmer Philip Marley has since made an official complaint to North Yorkshire police[NORTH NEWS]

Philip Marley says his Blonde d'Aquitane bull worth £5,000, was not a danger to anyone and has condemned the shooting as "outrageous and totally morally wrong."

The bull was shot after police received reports it had made its way onto a public road. But Mr Marley insists it had been put into a field within half-a-mile of his farm and workers were encouraging it into sheds where he spent winter months before four police marksmen opened fire.

He has now lodged an official complaint with North Yorkshire Police and is demanding an explanation for Monday's shooting.

Mr Marley, who runs Brambles Farm in Exelby, near Bedale, said: "They had no right to shoot him, he was doing no harm and he was not a danger to anyone.

"It's a disgrace, it would be different if he had been charging towards someone but he wasn't, he was a lovely bull."

The bull was shot after getting onto a road, but Mr Marley said it had been put into a field within half-a-mile of his farm The bull was shot after getting onto a road [NORTH NEWS]

If he had been rampaging around a public road I could have understood. But he wasn't, by the time they shot him he was in a 50 acre field and heading back towards the shed where he spends the winter!

Philip Marley

North Yorkshire Police said it was aware a complaint had been made but declined to comment other than say the matter would be handed to the Professional Standards Department.

Mr Marley, 45, a cattle and sheep breeder who owns two butchers shops, said it's unlikely his insurance would pay out on Billy because he had been shot by the police.

"It's not the insurance, it's the animal itself," he said. "He was a fine healthy bull. I'd had him about two-and-a-half years and would probably have kept him for another ten."

The farmer says Billy had got into a neighbouring field of cows but had been let out onto the Exelby to Burneston road when police were called.

Mr Marley added: "If he had been rampaging around a public road and putting people in danger I could have understood their actions.

"But he wasn't, by the time they shot him he was in a 50 acre field and heading back towards the shed where he spends the winter.

The angry farmer reluctantly covers his dead bull The angry farmer reluctantly covers his dead bull [NORTH NEWS]

"They said the field wasn't secure and they had no choice but to kill him, but that is utter rubbish.

"To my mind they were hell-bent on killing him, he was no more to them than target practice.

"It was an act of cruelty and it was pointless. They now have the nerve to tell me it's my duty to dispose of him because he's still lying in the field where they killed him.

"I've told them I'll dispose of him by putting him in a trailer and taking him to North Yorkshire police headquarter and leaving him on the steps. They killed him let's see how they would like to deal with the aftermath.

"When the police shot him he was three quarters of a mile from the nearest road. How does that constitute a threat? I want answers and those responsible held to account."

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