Gloucestershire farmer fined following death of young shepherdess
6th May 2025
A Gloucestershire farmer has been fined after the shepherdess he employed was killed in a quad bike crash.
Laura Simmons was found on Spoonley Farm in Winchcombe, near Cheltenham, by a jogger on Friday, 2nd June 2023, after the 350kg bike overturned on rough terrain and broke her neck.
That day, Laura had been tasked with spraying weed killer, namely herbicide, along 20 kilometres of perimeter electric fences. Her mother, Karen Simmons, had travelled down from her home on Shetland to holiday with Laura – spending an hour with her before she went to work on the day of her death.
Laura, described by her mother as “lively, caring and adventurous”, died from fatal spine injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the ATV overturned due to an overloaded front rack, uneven tyre pressure, unstable load from lack of baffles in the spray tank and the potential for the spray lance to be used during movement.
READ MORE: Young shepherdess crushed to death by overloaded quad bike
‘Hard worker, intelligent, practical and adventurous’
HSE said that farmer Toby Baxter failed to provide suitable equipment, ensure pre-use checks were conducted, implement a system to fill the spray tank, formally train his employees and properly assess the risks.
Laura’s mother paid tribute to her daughter by saying: “She was a lively person who loved animals, was very caring, was a hard worker, was plucky, intelligent, practical, adventurous and she had a beautiful smile.”
Toby Baxter of Chedworth pleaded guilty to breaching regulations 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £6,161.72 in costs at a hearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Emily O’Neill said: “This was a tragic incident, and a much-loved young woman has lost her life. It could have easily been avoided with the right controls in place.
“We found several failures, so Mr Baxter’s previous suggestion that Laura was a victim of ‘unfortunate circumstances’ is, frankly, offensive.
“This prosecution highlights ongoing safety concerns in the agricultural sector, which remains one of Britain’s most dangerous industries for workers. Proper equipment, training and risk assessment are essential to protect workers.”
HSE explained that its guidelines emphasise that safety checks for ATVs must include checking tyre pressures, which are crucial for vehicle stability.
Even a small 1 psi difference can cause dangerous control problems. Proper ATV operation requires appropriate training, suitable helmets, and careful route planning.
The risk of overturn is significantly higher when carrying loads that destabilise the vehicle, especially on uneven terrain or slopes, as these conditions require reduced loads and increased caution.
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