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East Harling farm workers admit cruelty to pigs | East Harling farm workers admit cruelty to pigs |
(25 days later) | |
Two farm workers have admitted causing unnecessary suffering to pigs at a farm in Norfolk - exposed by secret filming. | Two farm workers have admitted causing unnecessary suffering to pigs at a farm in Norfolk - exposed by secret filming. |
Geoffrey Towell and James Dove were working at Harling Farm, East Harling, when they were secretly filmed being cruel to sows and piglets. | Geoffrey Towell and James Dove were working at Harling Farm, East Harling, when they were secretly filmed being cruel to sows and piglets. |
Towell, 54, of East Harling, admitted five charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the animals. | |
Dove, 27, of Arundal Road, Wymondham, admitted two counts of the same charge, at Norwich Magistrates' Court. | |
Both also admitted failing to protect pigs from suffering contrary to the Animal Welfare Act. | |
This amounted to one charged of Towell and two charges for Dove. | |
Possible jail sentence | Possible jail sentence |
The cruelty was exposed by a member of the animal rights group Animal Equality who filmed Towell, of Eccles Road, throwing piglets and using a metal bar to beat sows while moving them. In one case a sow was clubbed 35 times. | |
Dove was filmed kicking the animals. | Dove was filmed kicking the animals. |
Sentencing was adjourned until next month. | Sentencing was adjourned until next month. |
District judge Peter Veits said there was a possibility that the pair could be jailed. | District judge Peter Veits said there was a possibility that the pair could be jailed. |
RSPCA officials attended the farm on 10 February this year after being made aware of the footage. | RSPCA officials attended the farm on 10 February this year after being made aware of the footage. |
RSPCA Inspector Ben Kirby said: "We were appalled when we saw the footage of pigs being kicked, beaten and handled so cruelly. | RSPCA Inspector Ben Kirby said: "We were appalled when we saw the footage of pigs being kicked, beaten and handled so cruelly. |
"All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and respect - whether they are pets, wildlife or livestock. | "All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and respect - whether they are pets, wildlife or livestock. |
"This has been a very sad case but we are pleased those responsible for this horrific cruelty have been brought before the courts and guilty pleas have been entered." | "This has been a very sad case but we are pleased those responsible for this horrific cruelty have been brought before the courts and guilty pleas have been entered." |
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