‘Big interest’ in home farm of rustler who betrayed dale

THE home farm of a convicted dale sheep rustler, who was found guilty of passing thousands of pounds worth of sheep of as his own, has gone up for sale with a guide price of £1.25million.

Hazel Gill Farm at Bowes has been put on the market with Penrith-based Robson and Liddle Chartered Surveyors.

More than 100 sheep, belonging to 14 different farmers from three different counties, were found on farm land belonging to the Raine family including 111 at Hazel Gill Farm in Bowes where Phillip Raine was living at the time. The sheep, which had gone missing between January 2010 and October 2013, were identified by their rightful owners at sheep identity parades which were held in October and November 2013.

Phillip Raine was jailed for three years in January 2016 along with his uncle and former champion Swaledale sheep breeder Charles Neville Raine who was also involved in the crime which shocked the farming community.

During the trial at Teesside Crown Court, Judge Tony Briggs told the jury how the pair had been part of a significant abuse of trust.

He said: “You are from

a family of well-known Swaledale sheep breeders and are well known in the sheep breeding circles.

“I am perfectly convinced that this is a business that you were in together.”

Judge Briggs also described Phillip Raine’s attitude towards his neighbours in the farming community as “cynical” and “predatory”.

The stock rearing farm is located close to the A66 and A67 Barnard Castle junction and is set within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The four-bedroom farmhouse comes with a 240-acre ring-fenced permanent pasture which is accessed by a private road. There is also a range of modern and traditional livestock and other outbuildings on site.

Director of Robson and Liddle John Robson said: “We are pleased to offer this outstanding stock rearing farm which will make an excellent farming base or an addition to an existing enterprise.

“Early indications are that there is substantial interest.”

Phillip Raine was ordered to pay back his ill-gotten gains last year. During a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in December 2016 at Teesside Crown Court, Mr Raine was ordered to pay back £130,251.

The court order also saw £24,933 of the £130,251 paid back to 11 farmers who lost their sheep and made claims.