Man charged after boy, 8, shot dead during rabbit hunt on farm

A man has been charged after an eight-year-old boy was shot dead on a farm in Cumbria.

Jay Cartmell was killed with a shotgun on September 28 2024 after joining a rabbit hunt, an inquest previously heard.

He suffered serious wounds to his head and face on land near Warcop and died in hospital later the same day.

More than 16 months after his death, a man has been charged on suspicion of manslaughter over Jay’s death.

On Tuesday, Cumbria Police said in a statement: ‘Allan Thursby, 64, of Dent Place, Cleator Moor, was arrested on September 28 2024 and has been on police bail since.

‘Today he was charged with gross negligence manslaughter.’

Thursby has been bailed to appear at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on March 26, police added.

Leigha and James Cartmell, the boy’s parents, described their son as ‘loving, kind and full of mischief’ at the time of his death.

In a tribute issued through Cumbria Police after his death, they said: ‘We are heartbroken at the passing of our perfect little boy – Jay Cartmell, eight years.

‘He was loving, kind and full of mischief, the best boy that anyone could wish for and the third corner of our beautiful family “triangle”.

‘Jay loved being outdoors, the muddier he could get the better and was starting to follow in the footsteps of his dad with his obsession for speedway at Workington, where he first attended aged one years.’

They also told of how Jay enjoyed fishing and rabbiting with his father and helped care for the family pets, including four lurchers, five ferrets and his own bearded dragon named Spike.

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