CONVICTED (2023) | Andrew Marwood, born 4 August 1995, of Manor Close, Kirkbymoorside YO62 6EP and Lee Pearcy of The Mile, Pocklington, York YO42 – for sickening violence towards a terrified pig.
Marwood and Pearcy, employees of an unnamed Holderness pig production company, were fined for animal welfare offences.
Driver Marwood and fieldsman Pearcy pleaded guilty to offences under animal transport legislation for using violence likely to cause unnecessary fear, injury or suffering and for using prohibited handling techniques when loading pigs for transport.
The court heard how animal health officers from East Riding Council undertook an investigation after video footage of pigs being loaded onto a lorry at a farm in Wyton, Holderness, on April 24, 2023, was received from a member of the public.
The video showed Marwood lifting a pig, who was reluctant to load, by the tail and hitting her with a pig board (a board used to guide pigs when moving them). When the pig still refused to load onto the lorry, she was then hit on multiple occasions with a pig board by Pearcy.
The investigation found the pig company had apparently provided extensive training on the correct methods for handling and moving pigs.
Following internal disciplinary hearings, Pearcy was dismissed while Marwood was transferred into a driving role which does not involve handling livestock.
Sentencing | Marwood was fined £480 and £800 costs with a £192 victim surcharge and Pearcy was fined £384 and £800 costs with a £154 victim surcharge.