Son of farmer, 75, 'shot dead on tractor' charged with manslaughter
The son of a 75-year-old farmer shot dead in his field has been charged with his manslaughter.
Thomas Olverson was working on his farm in rural Lancashire on July 25, 2024 when he died of gunshot injuries.
The violent death of the 'old-fashioned farmer' shortly before 5pm sent shockwaves through the quiet community of Scarisbrick, near Ormskirk.
Police immediately launched a murder inquiry and cordoned off Marsh Hey Farm, with a shotgun recovered from the scene.
Neighbours said they believed Mr Olverson had been shot while sitting on a vintage tractor, with forensics officers pictured examining the vehicle which had been abandoned in the middle of a field.
His son Adam Olverson was arrested on suspicion of murder before being bailed while officers carried out inquiries.
Today Lancashire Police said the 31-year-old was re-arrested on Monday and has since been charged with manslaughter, possession of a firearm without a licence and possession of ammunition without a licence.
He is due to appear before magistrates in Preston on Wednesday.
Thomas Olverson, 75, was found dead having suffered gunshot injuries at a farm on Pinfold Lane in Scarisbrick
Police pictured examining the scene in a Lancashire field following the shooting of Mr Olverson on July 25, 2024
Mr Olverson Sr is understood to have lived on the farm for much of his life, along with his wife and son.
Shortly after his death, the Lancashire Evening Post reported how his funeral was held at St Catharine's Church in Scarisbrick with his wife, son and a police officer present.
Andrew Overton, a neighbour of the family, previously told how he used to work for Mr Olverson Sr, known as Tommy, decades earlier.
'He would keep himself to himself, he was very quiet,' he said.
'He would always be walking past the house to his field at the end of the road.
'I've not known Tommy for a big gap in my life but when I moved back I would talk to him but he just kept himself to himself.
'A few weeks before his death I was in the front garden and him and his son stopped and spoke to me.
'He was just a quiet loner.'
Another neighbour, Dennis Fullingham, said he used to see Mr Olverson Sr going into the field with a machete in hand to harvest cabbages.
'I have never seen anyone else at the farm,' he said.
'I would always see Thomas working, an old fashioned farmer.'
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
