Richmond School deputy headteacher David Clark was walking through a field in the Yorkshire Dales when he was attacked and killed while out with his dogs.

The hugely popular 59-year-old was knocked to the ground by an initial stampede before one of the cows turned around and ran straight into him on farmland in Richmond.

The married father-of -three was pronounced dead despite the best efforts of the air ambulance service, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Andrew and David Turnbull admitted to breaching health and safety standards when they failed to recommend an alternative route through their field once cows and their suckling calves were put out to pasture.

The brothers, who have worked on the family farm for more than 30 years, admitted failing to erect a sign advising people to take an alternative route across the farmland.

A judge heard how they did have warning signs telling people to keep their dogs on a lead and let go of them if they were charged at by the livestock.

Kirsten Mercer, representing the Health and Safety Executive, told the court how the farmers could have offered an alternative route across the field to protect walkers and members of the public.

She said they could have temporarily moved the public right of way to the bottom of the field to try to reduce the risk of injury.

Even if he had taken an alternative route the incident could still have occurred, the HSE legal counsel accepted.

The brothers, of The Turnbulls, of Low Whashton near Richmond, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of persons other than employees while operating a farm.

Harry Vann, representing Andrew Turnbull, said the farmer never expected to be appearing in court charged with a criminal offence and had no adverse findings with the HSE throughout his lengthy career.

He told the judge the investigation and death of Mr Clark had had a devastating impact on the farmer and 'will never do otherwise'.

And Tom Gent, representing 61-year-old David Turnbull, said the brothers had taken careful thought and planning before placing the cattle in the field.

He reminded the judge that the breach was a minor one in terms of the legislation.

Judge Jonathan Carroll paid tribute to Mr Clark at the start of his sentencing remarks.

“He enjoyed walking and running, he enjoyed being out with his dogs. There is no suggestion he was doing anything wrong or wilfully doing anything to endanger himself.

“He was doing no more than enjoying a run in the countryside with his dogs on public footpaths,” he said.

“He was trampled by a herd of suckling cows and despite the best efforts of the air ambulance service, sadly he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"I send my deepest condolences to his family.”

The judge said he accepted that the family had put cows in that field for 30 years and never had any incidents and had taken appropriate measures to ensure the cattle and calves where well.

He fined Andrew Turnbull £1,589 and David Turnbull has been fined £1,390 following their guilty pleas. They were both ordered to pay an additional £1,500 towards court costs.

"I shall say, and I emphasise, that that fine is arrived at by close application of the sentencing guidelines,” he said.

"It does not, nor should be perceived by anybody, to be somehow a reflection on the value of Mr Clark, which of course is priceless in the eyes of those who loved and cherished him."

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For his funeral in September 2020, the full school, as well as staff and sports teams, lined the edge of the car park to allow the funeral cortege to drive through, before making its way to St Mary's Church in the town.

Many staff members wore tartan scarves in honour of the Scottish-born deputy headteacher, who had been described as the "life and soul of the school."

The cars were followed by more than 50 cyclists from Richmond Cycling Club, of which Mr Clark was a member, who all walked their cycles behind the hearse and supporting cars.

Mr Clark, born in Duns in the Scottish Borders, played three times in the second row for Scotland under-21, while his son Calum played for Northampton Saints and Saracens.