In a stunning $7 million mansion, originally owned by royalty and encompassing 200 acres of land with prime cattle and sheep, they resided.
Pamela Palmer and her son Joseph described themselves to neighbors as part of an incredibly affluent Australian family, while also giving off the impression of quirky animal enthusiasts who resided with an assortment of pets in their home.
Among their companions were a pet lamb that roamed the bedroom, several cats, dogs, and even a badger located in the basement.
However, during court proceedings today, it was revealed that the Palmers possessed neither the financial capability nor the desire to properly care for the multitude of animals they took ownership of.
Inside a rundown building, sheep perished from starvation after resorting to eating soil off the ground in a desperate search for nourishment.
Cattle that had once been in excellent health endured prolonged suffering from neglect, with serious injuries untreated for ‘years,’ magistrates noted.
When authorities eventually intervened to reclaim control of Sheriff Hutton Hall, located near York in England, they unearthed that several neighbors had also suffered significantly due to their trust in Mrs. Palmer, aged 70, and her 30-year-old son Joseph.
One woman shared outside the court that she had been persuaded by Mrs. Palmer’s supposed wealth to sell her shares and remortgage her house in order to lend her $1.2 million, while another neighbor reportedly provided a $450,000 loan. Not a single cent has been returned.
The court explored how the grim reality of the estate’s conditions came to light when Mrs. Palmer’s bank officials repossessed the house and land in April of the previous year. Additionally, she was declared bankrupt in December.
Today, Mrs. Palmer entered a guilty plea regarding three charges of animal cruelty at Selby Magistrates Court, with her son admitting to seven similar allegations.
Both defendants received a sentence of 18 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, along with a lifetime ban on owning livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and donkeys.
Mr. Palmer was instructed to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service.
In court, Mrs. Palmer expressed that she was currently without a home, having been staying with friends and in motels.
This marks a dramatic decline for a woman who relocated to the UK in 1993 alongside her elderly father, a former stockbroker from Sydney.
With the aid of a significant bank loan, Mrs. Palmer reportedly purchased the grade one listed mansion…constructed by King James I as a hunting lodge in the early 1600s…for around $4.5 million and allocated $5 million for renovations.
An RSPCA inspector characterized the interior as resembling a ‘stately home,’ featuring antique furnishings, exquisite paintings, and oak-panelled reception areas. She purchased 16 fireplaces from Sotheby’s to have installed throughout the four levels of the residence.
The court heard that Mrs. Palmer had previously resided on her family’s expansive Australian farm, where she had managed ‘tens of thousands’ of ewes without challenges.
However, Prosecutor Philip Brown mentioned that RSPCA inspectors revealed disturbing evidence of animal cruelty when they were called to intervene.
Attempts were made to incinerate cattle carcasses and bury them in the family’s old swimming pool.
Five deceased sheep were discovered within a dilapidated coach house, while a Hereford cow and bull were in such dire conditions that they had to be immediately euthanized by the veterinarian.
An estimated 500 sheep and 200 cattle resided on theThe estate’s relatively good condition can be attributed to the generosity of a compassionate local farmer who provided food and water, contributing on a casual basis.
The court heard that Jo Welford, the farmer, was genuinely concerned about the welfare of the animals and assisted in their care without expecting any payment. Unfortunately, he was later unjustly accused by Mrs. Palmer regarding some of the offenses.
During the defense, Kate Raitt mentioned that prior to the mansion being re-possessed, Mrs. Palmer was paying a finance company $50,000 monthly. “She has lost everything and is now left with no money,” she stated.
Outside the court, RSPCA inspector Laura Barber noted that during her investigation, numerous individuals arrived at the gate claiming they were owed thousands of pounds by Mrs. Palmer.
One of those individuals, Annabel Holt, 70, who lived in Sheriff Hutton Hall in the 60s and hailed from a wealthy industrial family, attended the court to witness Mrs. Palmer’s sentencing. She alleged that Mrs. Palmer owed her $1.4 million.
Mrs. Holt recounted that she had sold $500,000 worth of shares and re-mortgaged her home for $600,000 to assist Mrs. Palmer, who was struggling to repay her own bank loan.
She firmly believed that funds were available in Australia and that she would be repaid—with interest—along with an additional amount to cover capital gains tax.
However, she was never reimbursed, leading Mrs. Holt to sell her property in order to settle the debts she incurred.
She remarked, “There was no contract or any formal agreement. She promised to return the money based on her word of honor. She simply lacked the funds; it was all a deception.
“I was not the only one misled. She was incredibly convincing and believable, and everyone assumed she was quite wealthy.
“I reported her to the police, but I never provided a statement or requested an investigation.
“Now that she has no money, I stand little chance of recovering what I’m owed. Thankfully, I still have enough to live on.”
Local farmer Robin Barker expressed his belief that many more animals suffered and died due to neglect, criticizing the authorities for their delayed intervention.
He stated, “She is simply amoral but clever and manipulative. She has no money; everything she funded was on credit.
“There are numerous frustrated contractors in the area who performed work on the estate and are owed thousands of pounds by her.”
by Robbo Green