A Wiltshire farmer who removed samples from an Environment Agency officer investigating his farm now faces paying more than £4,000 in fines and costs.

Neil Dyke, of Chipps Farm in Corsley Warminster, removed water sample bottles from an Environment Agency officer who had collected the samples from a river to see if they were contaminated with slurry sprayed over the nearby field.

The 34-year-old appeared at Bath Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, July 31 and admitted to intentionally obstructing an officer in the exercise of his duties.

In a case brought by the Environment Agency, the court heard that an officer went to the farm in January this year after pollution was reported in the Rodden Brook.

Following the sentencing, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Dyke’s behaviour was totally unacceptable.

“The officer was carrying out his lawful duties to establish slurry pollution in the brook.

“We will not hesitate in pursuing anyone tries to prevent our officers from carrying out work to protect the environment.”

He received a fine of £289 and was ordered to pay court costs of £3,699 as well as £116 to fund victim services.

The officer noticed a tractor spreading slurry in the next field and could see that the water in the brook was a dark brown/green colour, with a foam on the surface and smelled strongly.

These are classic indicators of slurry pollution.

He took photos and a water sample as well as an ammonia test which showed a result of around 10mg per litre, which was the maximum reading that he could measure.

A tractor then arrived and the officer explained to the driver what he was doing before asking the driver twice for his name, but the tractor driver refused to tell him. It was Neil Dyke.

Later, the tractor returned and the driver disputed the officer’s authorisation to take a sample.

Though the officer showed his authorisation, Dyke said he would not allow the officer to take the samples away from the site.

The farmer picked up the samples that were lying on the ground and put them in the tractor cab, then refused to give them back - despite being asked several times to do so by the Environment Agency officer - and drove away.