Dairy farmer defiant despite repeated crime attacks

Helen Smith has found home-made traps in her fields at Brecks Lane Farm

A Rotherham farmer says she has been the victim of rural crime on so many occasions she has come close to quitting the industry.

Brecks Lane Farm has been in Helen Smith's family since 1972, but after a number of incidents including an arson attack, thefts and a cow being shot dead, she said life had never been tougher.

She said: "I was born on the farm. Without my cows and my farm I have no life, it's all I know."

Insp Kieran Frain of South Yorkshire Police said rural crime was a "priority" for the force, adding: "We understand the devastating impact these crimes have on those living and working in rural areas."

According to the National Farmers' Union, the cost of rural crime in 2024 was estimated at £44.1m, a decrease of 16.5% compared to the previous year.

But Ms Smith believes her farm's location has caused an increase in attacks for her.

"It's all because we live on the urban fringe, we live so close to Rotherham," she said.

Other attacks on the farm have seen tractor tyres slashed

Rotherham Council acknowledged that the farm's boundary fence had been subject to "repeated damage".

Andrew Bramidge, strategic director for regeneration and environment, said: "We are aware of the concerns raised by the landowner and understand the distress that ongoing criminal and anti-social behaviour has caused.

"We continue to inspect the site regularly and will maintain the fence as part of our ongoing response. This is a complex and ongoing issue."

In the past year alone, Ms Smith has found more than 250 home-made traps placed in her fields designed to injure animals.

These include bottles and toilet rolls filled with concrete and six-inch nails sticking out from the sides.

The weapons are just one example in a series of incidents that the farmer says have caused non-stop "distress" to the family.

An arson attack on the dairy farm in 2011 left barns destroyed and a real possibility that the farm would close, she said.

In 2013, copper cable was stolen from an overhead electricity wire which meant cows could not be milked for hours.

Last summer a police investigation was launched after one of the farm's cows was shot and killed.

The farmer admitted it had been hard to continue.

"This is my livelihood," she said.

"It has been stressful. My mum had a nervous breakdown.

"But I try and rise above it because if you don't, the other person's won.

"Farming is all I know."

Ms Smith believes one factor is the farm's close proximity to Rotherham

South Yorkshire Police's rural crime team has been working with the dairy farm, although Ms Smith said their help had been limited.

She said: "They're short staffed so when you ring them up, they ask if you've got any CCTV, but we can't afford cameras over all our land.

"I've got a list of crime reference numbers as long as my arm."

Insp Frain said: "We always seek to work proactively to target those causing the most harm to our rural communities and to ultimately disrupt and catch offenders.

"We are stronger with the help of our communities, and through regular community meetings we hope to demonstrate how we are listening and responding to the concerns of our rural communities."

Some mornings Ms Smith gets up at 03:30 to drive milk to the dairy

Ms Smith said the day-to-day pressures of running a dairy farm remained despite the attacks, with frequent 18 to 20-hour working days.

When the dairy that contracted Brecks Lane decided it was no longer financially viable to send a wagon to collect milk, she took matters into her own hands.

Every other day, Ms Smith rises at 03:30 to drive 1,200 litres of milk to the dairy herself, ready for pasteurising and the supermarket shelves.

The Farming Community Network charity is now in its 30th year, taking an average of 150 calls a month from farmers in need of help.

Kate White, rural support officer for the North East, said mental health was one of the "biggest issues".

She said: "The issues we are finding are complex, it can start with financial pressures and then lead to family breakdowns.

"Farmers are tough, they are so resiliant, they will get up every day for their animals and crops.

"They put their animals and crops before them every day.

"For Helen her cows need milking, but whilst you carry on it's also important to talk and that's what she's done."

Brecks Lane Farm is hosting a charity fundraising evening on 11 October in aid of the Farming Community Network.

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