A husband and wife have been sentenced and handed lengthy animal bans after a major welfare prosecution exposed severe neglect involving hundreds of calves and several dogs at their Staffordshire farm.
Matthew William Shuker and Courtney Shuker, formerly Moss, of Westwood Hall Farm in Leek, appeared at Telford Magistrates’ Court on July 29, 2026, following two separate investigations into the treatment of animals in their care.
The case involved an investigation by Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards into the welfare of calves, alongside a separate RSPCA investigation concerning dogs — including a German Shepherd named Ruby, who was found dead.
Between them, the couple were convicted of more than 30 animal welfare-related offences arising from conditions at the farm during 2022 and 2023.
The scale of the problems involving the cattle emerged after Trading Standards officers made repeated visits to Westwood Hall Farm over a period of around 13 months.
Prosecutor Jane Sarginson, representing Staffordshire County Council, told the court that concerns about the welfare of calves were repeatedly raised with the couple.
Officers found animals that were severely underweight after receiving inadequate nutrition, while other calves had not been provided with appropriate veterinary treatment.
Conditions on the farm were also criticised, with animals found without sufficient dry bedding and faeces discovered in feeding troughs.
Perhaps most concerning was the mortality rate.
The court heard the farm had recorded a 25% death rate among its cattle, compared with a national average cited during proceedings of around 9%.
Dead calves were also found left exposed at the premises.
Eventually, authorities intervened on a significant scale.
In March 2023, more than 200 calves were seized after Matthew and Courtney failed to comply with an improvement notice intended to address the welfare concerns.
Despite animals being removed, the court heard the couple subsequently brought additional calves onto the farm.
German Shepherd died after suffering extreme hunger
Separate from the Trading Standards investigation, the RSPCA became involved following the death of Ruby, a German Shepherd, in March 2023.
The circumstances surrounding Ruby’s death were particularly disturbing.
A post-mortem examination found that the starving dog had been eating wood shavings and plastic, behaviour attributed to the extreme hunger she had experienced.
After Ruby died, her body was left lying in her bed for five days.
Four other dogs were subsequently surrendered to the RSPCA and have since been rehomed.
The court also heard that Courtney still had 33 horses at the time of sentencing. Unlike the cattle and dogs at the centre of the prosecution, concerns were not raised about their condition and the horses were described as well cared for.
Nevertheless, as a consequence of the animal bans imposed by the court, she was given 90 days to find new homes for them.
Suspended prison sentences and lengthy animal bans
Matthew Shuker was handed a 38-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also fined £400 and ordered to pay £15,587 in costs.
Courtney Shuker received a 26-week custodial sentence, also suspended for 18 months, together with 140 hours of unpaid work.
She was fined £200 and ordered to pay £15,354 in costs.
Both were banned from keeping livestock for 12 years and banned from keeping companion animals for 10 years.
That means their livestock bans are due to remain in place until 2038, while the companion-animal bans run until 2036.
During mitigation, the court heard about serious personal difficulties experienced by the couple during the period in question.
Matthew’s defence referred to significant mental-health difficulties, while Courtney’s representatives highlighted the difficulties she experienced during pregnancy.
However, the court did not accept that incompetence or the personal circumstances put forward could excuse the extent of the suffering inflicted on animals for which they were responsible.
Trading Standards described the neglect involving the calves as one of the most serious animal welfare cases its officers had dealt with, pointing particularly to the number of animals involved and the exceptionally high mortality rate.
The RSPCA also highlighted the deeply distressing circumstances of Ruby’s death and the extreme hunger she had endured.
Farm shop owners distance themselves from case
Following publicity surrounding the prosecution, clarification has also been issued concerning Shukers Farm Shop Ltd in Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent.
The farm shop is operated by relatives of Matthew Shuker but was not involved in the offences at Westwood Hall Farm and was not the subject of either the Trading Standards or RSPCA investigation.
A number of independent businesses also operate from units at the farm shop site. They have no connection to the animal welfare offences.
Matthew and Courtney had previously operated a pet and animal-feed business from a unit at the site, but the farm shop owners say a serious family dispute more than five years ago resulted in a complete breakdown in communication.
They say they had not visited Westwood Hall Farm since before that breakdown and were unaware of the conditions uncovered by investigators.
According to the family, they had questioned Matthew and Courtney when rumours emerged over the years but were repeatedly reassured that nothing improper was happening. They say they only became aware of the full circumstances and court proceedings when reports of the case became public.
The farm shop has since publicly distanced itself from what happened at Westwood Hall Farm and has asked people not to target the independent businesses trading from its premises, none of which were implicated in the prosecution.
The case ultimately exposed suffering on a considerable scale: hundreds of calves affected by poor conditions and inadequate care, an extraordinarily high cattle mortality rate, and a German Shepherd whose hunger became so severe that she consumed wood shavings and plastic before her death.
Matthew and Courtney Shuker avoided immediate imprisonment, but the court orders mean neither will be permitted to keep livestock for 12 years or companion animals for a decade.
