Rabbit farm raid accused 'impressionable'

An alleged animal rights activist accused of taking part in a "reconnaissance" raid at a Lincolnshire rabbit farm seemed "quite impressionable", according to her former house mate.

Manchester student Victoria Waterhouse-Taylor is alleged to have gone to Highgate Farm, near Normanby-by-Spital, north of Lincoln, with three other activists during the middle of the night on October 13 last year.

It is claimed all four friends had links to the campaign group Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty which listed Highgate Farm on its website as a potential target for "direct action".

The jury had previously heard from the farmer, who was granted anonymity by the court, who said the attacks had made him feel "sick".

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Dean Cain (27), of King Street, Ulverston, Cumbria, Luke Steele (18), of Woodside View, Leeds and a 17-year-old boy from Urmston, Manchester, who cannot be named because of his age, have admitted conspiracy to interfere with a contractual relationship.

Waterhouse-Taylor (18), who was living in Eva Street, Rusholme, Manchester, while studying at City College, denies the same charge.

Giving evidence, Waterhouse-Taylor's former housemate Sam Birkett said: "It sounds a little patronising, for which I apologise, but it did seem if these guys put an idea in her head she was more likely to do it."

The trial continues.

For more detail of the case, see Friday's Echo.