CONVICTED (2017) | farmhand Owen Nichol, born c. 1998, of Buckland Road, Taunton TA2 8EW – caught on camera kicking and punching cows and calves
Owen Nichol admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the animals contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The thug’s actions were filmed by the campaign group Animal Equality at Pyrland Farm in Taunton in December 2016.
He is seen throwing one calf away from its mother and kicking and stamping on a calf seven times.
During a four-minute clip, Nichol is seen kicking and punching a cow that had just given birth, as well as slamming a gate on it.
The RSPCA launched an investigation after being shown the footage.
Chairman of the magistrates Dr Peter Reed told Nichol his behaviour was “absolutely unacceptable”.
He said the offences passed the custody threshold but Nichol would be given a suspended sentence because of his age and lack of previous convictions and circumstances at the time.
Dr Toni Shephard, from Animal Equality UK, said the organisation was “extremely disappointed” Nichol had not been sent to prison for the “disgusting attacks on vulnerable cows and calves”.
“Anything less than a custodial sentence is a wholly inadequate punishment for these disturbing acts of cruelty,” she said.
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for one year. Banned from keeping or working with animals for two years. (expired April 2019).