Police investigating murder of farmer Thomas Olverson ask CPS to consider charges
Plus: New dawn for former Willow Grove pub
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
Today we bring you an update you won’t have read anywhere else as we approach one year since Thomas Olverson was killed while working on his farm in Scarisbrick.
This edition also has news of what’s coming next for the former Willow Grove which was closed by Wetherspoons more than two years ago.
Charges requested by police investigating farmer’s murder
By Jamie Lopez
Police investigating the murder of a farmer who was shot dead have asked prosecutors to consider charges.
Thomas Olverson died in July 2024 when he was shot while sitting in a tractor on his Marsh Hey Farm in Scarisbrick. A man, then aged 29, was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene and has remained on bail for almost 12 months since then.
Police said at the time that the two men were known to each other and that no-one else was being sought in connection. The suspect’s bail was extended on multiple occasions and Friday will mark the one year anniversary of Mr Olverson’s murder.
The Southport Lead can report that Lancashire Constabulary has passed on an evidence file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
When a crime is reported in the UK, it is investigated by police and once the investigation is completed, it send a file of evidence to the CPS. A CPS lawyer will then review all the information and decide whether it can bring a prosecution.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We’ve carried out a full and thorough investigation, and we have now submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service for their consideration.
“Anyone with information is continued to ask to contact 101 quoting log 0506 of 26th July 2024.”
As yet, no decision has been made by the CPS.
Det. Ch. Insp. Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police's force major investigation team previously said: “A man has very sadly lost his life as a result of this, and we have a dedicated team of officers working to establish what led to his death.
“We know that this news may sound concerning to the Scarisbrick community, but we want to reassure everyone that it is being treated as an isolated incident.”
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New dawn for former Willow Grove pub two years after Wetherspoons left
The former Willow Grove pub is set for new use - after more than two years of sitting empty.
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