Pictured - son of 'old-fashioned' farmer, 75, 'shot dead while sitting on vintage tractor' appears in court charged with his manslaughter

By JOHN KELLY and JAMES TOZER, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT Published: 17:15, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 17:23, 1 July 2026 A son accused of manslaughter after his 75-year-old farmer father was shot dead in his fields is pictured for the first time today.  Thomas Olverson was working on his farm in rural Lancashire on July 25, 2024 when he died of gunshot injuries. The violent death of the 'old-fashioned farmer' sent shockwaves through the quiet community of Scarisbrick, near Ormskirk. Police immediately launched a murder inquiry and cordoned off Marsh Hey Farm, with a shotgun recovered from the scene. Neighbours said they believed Mr Olverson had been shot while sitting on a vintage tractor, with forensics officers pictured examining the vehicle which had been abandoned in the middle of a field. His son Adam was later arrested on suspicion of murder then bailed while officers carried out inquiries before being charged over his killing earlier this week.  Today the 31-year-old appeared in court where he also faced charges of possession of a firearm without a licence and possession of ammunition without a licence.  The defendant, who is on bail, did not enter a plea on any of the charges when he appeared at Preston magistrates' court. Adam Olverson, 31, (pictured) appeared in court today charged with manslaughter after his farmer father was shot dead in his fields on on July 25, 2024 Thomas Olverson, 75, as found dead having suffered gunshot injuries at a farm on Pinfold Lane in Scarisbrick Wearing a dark jacket, blue shirt, black t-shirt and dark jeans, Olverson, of Scarisbrick, only spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth. No one from his family was present at the hearing. Gwyn Lewis, defending, told the court his client would not be indicating any pleas today. He added: 'This case has been going on for a very long time, some two years.' Darren Fazackerley, prosecuting, said the Crown would not oppose a continuation of unconditional bail. Magistrate chair Carrie Ryan-Palmer adjourned the case to July 29 for a plea and preparation hearing. Police were called to reports of a firearm being discharged in a field off Pinfold Lane, Scarisbrick, shortly after 4:55pm on July 25, 2024. Emergency services attended and found the 75-year-old who was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Olverson Sr is understood to have lived on the farm for much of his life, along with his wife and son.  His funeral was held at St Catharine's Church in Scarisbrick with his wife, son and a police officer present, the Lancashire Evening Post reported.  Andrew Overton, a neighbour of the family, previously told how he used to work for Mr Olverson Sr, known as Tommy, decades earlier. 'He would keep himself to himself, he was very quiet,' he said.  'He would always be walking past the house to his field at the end of the road. 'I've not known Tommy for a big gap in my life but when I moved back I would talk to him but he just kept himself to himself.  'A few weeks before his death I was in the front garden and him and his son stopped and spoke to me.  Another neighbour, Dennis Fullingham, said he used to see Mr Olverson Sr going into the field with a machete in hand to harvest cabbages. 'I have never seen anyone else at the farm,' he said.  'I would always see Thomas working, an old-fashioned farmer.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.