Three admit farm hate campaign

Three men have admitted conspiring to blackmail the owners of a guinea pig breeding farm during a hate campaign that involved stealing the remains of a relative from her grave.

The campaign against the Darley Oaks Farm in Newchurch, Staffordshire, run by the Hall family, began in 1999 and culminated in the desecration of grave of the mother-in-law of Christopher Hall, Mrs Hammond. The family stopped breeding guinea pigs for research last year.

Kerry Whitburn, age 36, John Smith, age 39, and John Ablewhite, age 36, admitted conspiracy to blackmail David Hall and Partners and others connected to the farm, with menace, during a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court.

The trio had previously denied the offence, that took place between 1 September, 1999, and 27 September last year, and were due to stand trial later this month.

A fourth defendant charged with the same offences, Josephine Mayo, of Edgbaston, will appear before court for a separate hearing today.

All three men were remanded in custody after their appearance before Judge Michael Pert QC. The judge said yesterday that they faced up to 12 years in jail when sentenced next month. They will return for a full hearing in May.