Electric fence put in after cattle death - inquest

An electric fence was erected to separate a footpath from cattle in a field following the trampling death of a 29-year-old woman, an inquest has heard.

Rebekah Morris, known as Becki, died from abdominal crush injuries on the evening of 9 July 2022, in a field near Littlethorpe, Leicestershire, where she had been walking her chihuahua Zero.

A jury inquest at Leicester Town Hall has heard Ms Morris sent a photo of the cattle to her mother just before 21:00 BST.

When she did not respond to calls and text messages, her parents went to look for her in the field, shown in the image, where they found her fatally injured.

Despite attempts to save her life, Ms Morris went into cardiac arrest and died at 23:21.

The jury was told on Wednesday that Zero was found in a nearby street still wearing his lead.

Insp Nicholas Mawby told the hearing investigations found the cattle had remained in the field in the weeks that followed Ms Morris's death.

While police investigations continued, prohibition notices were sent by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to the Hutton Partnership, which was responsible for the cattle, legally requiring action to be taken over the herd.

In response, he told the inquest an electric fence was installed to segregate the public from the pathway.

The hearing was told that on average, according to the HSE, one or two people are killed by cattle using public rights of way annually in the UK, and that three deaths including Ms Morris were recorded between April 2022 and March 2023.

Insp Mawby said that the risk posed to people by cattle was greater from cows with calves, and to walkers with dogs.

He said there was no record of complaints over the farm's cows with the local authority, and while giving evidence, Det Sgt Joseph McCormack of Leicestershire Police said his investigations found no previous instances of complaints either.

On Tuesday, evidence was given that the cattle at that location were "easy-going" and had no history of stampeding.

The inquest continues.

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