A husband and wife have each been given suspended custodial sentences and banned from keeping farm animals for 12 years and companion animal for 10 years, having been found guilty of multiple animal welfare offences.
Matthew Shuker, aged 38, and his wife Courtney Shuker, aged 32, from Westwood Hall Farm, Leek, Staffordshire were given the sentences at a hearing at Telford Magistrates Court earlier today (Wednesday 29 July).
At the sentencing, Matthew Shuker was given a 38-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, a 12-year ban from keeping livestock, a 10-year ban from keeping companion animals, a £400 fine and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £15,587 in costs.
Courtney Shuker was given a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, a 12-year ban from keeping livestock, a 10-year ban from keeping companion animals, a £200 fine and ordered to complete 140 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £15,354 in costs.
The couple were prosecuted by Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards service after pleading guilty at a hearing on the 12 May 2025 at Telford Magistrates Court. The case additionally included charges brought by the RSPCA for dogs that were also found to be owned by the couple.
In March 2023, Trading Standards officers visited the farm and, despite previous advice and improvement notices being served on the couple, they found animals in such poor condition that it resulted in 243 calves being removed from the site and taken into the possession of the council. At the same time, dogs were found in appalling conditions, with a separate prosecution taken against the couple by the RSPCA for the cruelty they had inflicted on the animals.
The court heard how There had been a repeated failure to provide calves with adequate food and to obtain veterinary care when required. The unlawful castration of bull calves had taken place at the farm and the couple failed to deal with ill, dying and dead animals. In passing sentence, Judge Wilkinson thanked all officers involved in the case and commented that the case “strikes at the heart of an animal loving nation.”
Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“Our animal health team work hard to ensure livestock is properly cared for.
“This is a particularly upsetting case involving vulnerable, young animals whose basic welfare needs were not met. Despite professional advice and intervention, the couple continued to offend, even after animals had been removed from the site.
“Investigations of this nature require significant time and public resources, but they are essential to protecting animal welfare. I’m pleased the court has reached a successful conclusion, sending a clear message that we will take robust action where welfare standards are ignored.
“We will continue to support our animal health officers in tackling neglect and abuse and repeat offenders who disregard professional advice should expect consequences that reflect the seriousness of their actions and deter others from similar behaviour.”
