The 75-year-old was shot almost two years ago, with his son due in court on Wednesday
08:36, 30 Jun 2026Updated 08:42, 30 Jun 2026
Ryan Olverson has been charged with the manslaughter of his dad(Image: ASP)
The son of a farmer has been accused of shooting him dead on his field almost two years ago. Thomas Olverson was on his farm on Thursday, July 25, 2024, when he was shot dead shortly before 5pm.
Lancashire Police promptly opened an investigation into the death of the 75-year-old at Marsh Hey Farm on Pinfold Lane in Scarisbrick, just outside of Merseyside. A large emergency service presence was in place in the days after the shooting, believed to have happened on the field next to where the family lived on the farm.
The ECHO can now reveal Mr Olverson’s son, Adam Olverson, was re-arrested yesterday, June 29, and has since been charged with manslaughter, possession of a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without a license.
He will appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 1.
Mr Olverson’s farm is located just off Southport Road, a main road running through the area, with the village travelled through by commuters travelling between Southport, Ormskirk and Burscough.
Andrew Overton, a neighbour of the family, previously told The ECHO how he used to work for Mr Olverson, known as Tommy, when he was a teen and Tommy was in his 20s.
He told the ECHO: “He would keep himself to himself, he was very quiet. He would always be walking past the house to his field at the end of the road.
Thomas Olverson, 75, of Marsh Hey Farm, Pinfold Lane, Scarisbrick(Image: Lancashire Constabulary)
“I moved back to the area around five years ago, I would speak to him and his son because I knew him from when I worked on his farm a couple of times as a teenager during the summer.
“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. He was a nice enough guy, it’s a shame what has happened.
“A few weeks before his death I was in the front garden and him and his son stopped and spoke to me. He was just a quiet loner.”
It is understood that Mr Olverson lived on the farm for much of his life, along with his wife and son.
Shortly after his death, the Lancashire Evening Post reported how his funeral was held at St Catharine’s Church in Scarisbrick with his wife, son and a police officer present.
Another neighbour, Dennis Fullingham, told the ECHO how Mr Olverson would regularly walk past his home.
Dennis said: “I don’t really know the family but [Mr Olverson] would walk down the road with his machete in his hand to go to his field at the end of the road and cut the cabbage. He would nod and say hello as he passed.
“I have seen his son since who goes past in the tractor, he’ll often wave, but [Mr Olverson’s] wife won’t say anything.”
When asked about people coming and going from the farm, Dennis said: “I have never seen anyone else at the farm. I feel sorry for them, I really do.
“I would always see Thomas working, an old fashioned farmer.”