Global animal protection agency Animal Equality - which captured footage of the abuse - is 'extremely disappointed' by the sentencing, which saw all three men avoid jail

Men were caugh on camera beating the animals (Photo: Animal Equality)

A global animal protection agency has criticized the 'lenient sentences' handed to three farm workers who were filmed beating pigs last year.

Animal Equality captured footage of the men kicking pigs in the face, jabbing them with pitchforks and slamming gates on their heads on Fir Tree farm in Lincolnshire in April-May 2018.

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Gavin Hardy, Artis Grogprkevs, and Troy Wagstaff were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to pigs by inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and using a pitchfork inappropriately. Wagstaff faced a second charge of spraying paint up a pig's nose.

They each received an eight-week suspended prison sentence and a community order of 100 hours of unpaid work. They were also ordered to pay court charges.

Footage from the farm

'Extremely disappointed'

"We are extremely disappointed that these pig farm workers have not been jailed immediately for the disgusting attacks on vulnerable animals revealed by our investigation," said Dr. Toni Shephard, Animal Equality’s UK Director.

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"A suspended sentence and community order is wholly inadequate punishment for these disturbing acts of cruelty."

"Animals were beaten on every single day that our cameras were in those sheds. This case proves that laws and labels don't protect animals from being abused on farms. The only way to stop this suffering is by choosing meat-free options."