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Three men who cruelly ill-treated "defenceless" pigs at a farm in Goxhill during "gratuitous, appalling and sickening" brutality have been spared prison.

The main culprit was a supervisor who, ironically, was actually the farm's designated animal welfare manager responsible for animal welfare practice, a court heard.

The case was brought by the RSPCA following an undercover investigation by animal rights group Animal Equality.

Hidden cameras were put inside the farm and these uncovered horrific footage of abuse.

Troy Wagstaff, 30, who gave the address of his solicitors in Grimsby, admitted abusing numerous pigs between April 2 and April 27 by causing unnecessary suffering through inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence.

He denied a second charge of abusing a pig by spraying paint into its nose. The prosecution offered no evidence on that matter.

Gavin Hardy, 39, of Greengate Lane, South Killingholme, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to two pigs at the farm through inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and the inappropriate use of a pitchfork between April 25 and 27.

Artirs Grogprkevs, 32, formerly of East Marsh Road, Goxhill, but now of Oak Avenue, Goole, admitted abusing pigs between April 10 and April 27, by causing unnecessary suffering to four pigs through inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and the inappropriate use of a pitchfork,when knowing that the act was likely to have this effect.

They had been warned they faced jail during their previous hearing.

Cameras were planted in Fir Tree Farm after suspicions that pigs were being ill-treated and these revealed pigs being subjected to horrific abuse.

The pigs' squeals can be heard as they try to escape from the men around the pens.

Gordon Holt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told Grimsby Magistrates' Court that there was "repeated abuse and cruelty" to "multiple pigs".

Wagstaff was the unit's supervisor for nine months and had worked there since 2006.

He was the designated animal welfare manager and had monthly meetings with others about animal welfare practice.

Hardy was a stockman and had worked at the farm for about 20 years.

Grogprkevs had worked with pigs for about nine years.

All three had been sacked from their jobs after being suspended.

None of the men had any previous convictions.

(Image: Rick Byrne / Grimsbylive)

Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said Wagstaff had worked as a stockman for many years without complaint.

There was no serious injury, although pain would have been caused, and the pigs were quite clearly in distress. There were no deaths.

He had rescued pigs from a burning building at the farm in February last year and, on another occasion, rescued piglets from flooding there.

He had shown "extreme remorse" for what he had done.

"He doesn't seek to excuse what he has done in any way, shape or form," said Mr Hackfath.

"He bitterly regrets his actions."

There had been a "media storm" after he was identified from footage and there had been "some very hysterical reactions" resulting in serious threats being made to him and his family.

Ian Durant, representing Hardy, said it was a very short-lived episode causing trauma and serious distress to two pigs.

He had worked at the farm for 20 years and had become "desensitised". His father was a pigman.

"He knows that he will never work with animals again," said Mr Durant.

"What he did should never, ever have happened. He will have to live with this for a very, very long time."

(Image: Animal Equality)

Gary Bulbeck, representing Grogprkevs, said that the stockman recognised that his behaviour was unacceptable and he made full admissions.

"He accepts he has caused unnecessary suffering to the animals as a result of his inappropriate handling of them," said Mr Bulbeck.

"He is ashamed of his actions. No physical injury was caused."

He had worked hard for nine years at the farm and had never taken a day off sick. He was now an agency worker.

District judge Daniel Curtis said: " The footage was sickening to watch. In many ways, it is worse that these are animals because they are defenceless creatures. This was deliberate and gratuitous attempts to cause suffering. It was cruelty in a commercial setting.

"The acts that have been committed are appalling and sickening to watch and for people who have worked in this industry, behaviour that they should properly be ashamed of.

"Animals should be treated with care, respect and humanity, whatever they may be, not in a degrading, gratuitously violent manner, which appeared to be the culture that existed between you."

The three were given an eight-week suspended prison sentence, 100 hours' unpaid work and were banned from working with or transporting commercial livestock indefinitely.

They must each pay £500 costs and a Government-imposed £115 victims' surcharge.

After the hearing, Dr Toni Shephard, executive director of Animal Equality, said: "Obviously, it's a disgustingly pathetic sentence. Animals were beaten every single day that there were cameras inside those sheds.

"This sentence just proves that laws and labels can't protect can't protect animals from suffering on farms. The only way to stop this cruelty is to choose meat-free options."

RSPCA inspector Rebecca Harper said: "The matter was thoroughly investigated by the RSPCA, which included speaking to all members of staff and management of the farm.

"We were satisfied at the end of the investigation that this was the action of three men. The company itself wasn't culpable.

"Mr Wagstaff was the supervisor of the unit and had a position of extra responsibility and, sadly, he was the main perpetrator of repeated acts of cruelty and violence towards pigs.

"The other two were also found to have been acting inappropriately but to a lesser extent.

"Having watched the videos, it's truly horrific, watching a man going and punching a pig for absolutely no reason when he wasn't even moving or routinely handling them.

"There was footage of Mr Wagstaff going into a pen and punching and kicking pigs and walking off again.

"We were given the footage by Animal Equality, who did secret filming prior to our knowledge."