Last updated at 15:11, Friday, 24 October 2008

AN Ulverston man was among four animal rights activists who appeared in court today accused of being involved in a raid on a Lincolnshire farm.
The farm was targeted because of its links to the Huntingdon Life Sciences research company, Lincoln Crown Court was told.
The four were arrested in the early hours of October 13 at Caenby Corner,near Lincoln, which is close to Highgate Farm in the village of Normanby by Spital.
Dean Cain, 27, of King Street, Ulverston, Cumbria, Luke Steele, 18, of Woodside View, Leeds, Victoria Waterhouse-Taylor, 18, of Eva Street, Rusholme, Manchester and a 17-year-old boy from Urmston, Manchester, are accused of conspiracy to cause damage at Highgate Farm. They also face further charges of interfering with a contractual relationship so as to harm an animal research establishment and a further charge of conspiracy.
There was a heavy police presence at the court for the 45 minutes hearing.
No pleas were taken and Cain and Steele were each remanded in custody.
Waterhouse-Taylor and the 17-year-old, who cannot be named, were granted conditional bail until all four appear in court again December 19.
Highgate Farm was previously raided by animal rights activists in January when 129 rabbits were stolen and £100,000 damage caused by a group claiming to be connected to the Animal Liberation Front.
Images of the raid and video footage were late posted on the internet.
The isolated farm is licensed by the Home Office to breed rabbits which are provided to the research industry including Huntingdon Life Sciences.
None of the four people before the court in relation to the October allegations is connected to the earlier raid.

First published at 12:51, Friday, 24 October 2008
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk