A CHESHIRE farm worker has avoided jail after hitting a cow with a steel spade more than 60 times.

Pawel Turbak, who was employed as a stockman at Lea Manor Farm in Aldford, was caught on CCTV striking the animal to its body and hind legs.

The 37-year-old, who has since been dismissed, used the flat back and sharp digging edge of the spade, causing 18 lacerations alongside brusing and swelling.

The footage showed the cow had become stuck between two headrails, and was unable to move backwards or forwards. The offence was committed as the defendant was trying to free the cow, by digging around it.

Once the matter came to light, after another worker spotted the injuries and reported it to the dairy herd manager, Turbak was interviewed at Blacon police station.

During questioning, the defendant agreed it was not acceptable to inflict injuries to the cow but he said was working long hours and had problems at home.

At a hearing a Chester Magistrates Court on November 25, Turbak was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid community work, and must pay prosecution costs totalling £1,634.

Turbak was also disqualified from owning or keeping animals, or any involvement in the way animals are kept, for five years.

When sentencing the judge commented how crimes like this are particularly upsetting, that this was a prolonged attack and if not for the CCTV this may well have gone unnoticed. 

The judge accepted the incident was out of frustration of not being able to free the cow, rather than a specific wish to inflict pain on the animal.