Man jailed after RSPCA find pigs lying dead and emaciated
A man has been jailed following a prosecution by the RSPCA relating to dead and dying pigs in Chatteris.
Lee John Fisher, 30, of Haslehurst Close, March, entered a guilty plea to ten offences under the Animal Welfare Act in April and was then sentenced at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on May 16.
The charges relate to the inadequate diet given to the pigs and a lack of veterinary care provided for them.
Fisher received two 18-week custodial sentences and eight 9-week custodial sentences on the charges, to run concurrently.
He has also been disqualified from keeping all animals for 15 years and was ordered to pay £600 costs.
Following the investigation 103 pigs were signed over into RSPCA care.
RSPCA Inspector Alex Coghlan attended the site in August last year, she said: “We were alerted to the state of this land via an anonymous letter including photographs.
“The smell of the site hit you as soon as you walked in, the pigs were being kept in cramped conditions and in some cases alive animals were lying alongside dead ones.
“It was distressing to see particularly as only one pen had any water for the pigs, when we offered the younger pigs a drink they were frantic. I was very concerned for the welfare of these animals.”
Full list of offences:
1. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to a certain protected animal, namely a piglet by failing to
provide a nutritionally balanced diet suitable for the animals needs, which you knew or ought
reasonably to have known would have such an effect or be likely to do so, contrary to Section
4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
2. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to a certain protected animal, namely a boar by failing to
provide a nutritionally balanced diet suitable for the animals needs, which you knew or ought
reasonably to have known would have such an effect or be likely to do so, contrary to Section
4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
3. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to a certain protected animal, namely a boar by failing to
provide a nutritionally balanced diet suitable for the animals needs, which you knew or ought
reasonably to have known would have such an effect or be likely to do so, contrary to Section
4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
5. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to certain protected animals, namely two sows by
failing to provide them with a nutritionally balanced diet suitable for their needs, which you
knew or ought reasonably to have known would have such an effect or be likely to do so,
contrary to Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
6. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to a certain protected animal, namely a sow by failing to
provide them with a nutritionally balanced diet suitable for their needs, which you knew or
ought reasonably to have known would have such an effect or be likely to do so, contrary to
Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
7. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to a certain protected animal, namely a sow by failing to
provide them with a nutritionally balanced diet suitable for their needs, which you knew or
ought reasonably to have known would have such an effect or be likely to do so, contrary to
Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
8. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to a certain protected animal, namely a piglet by failing to
seek appropriate professional veterinary care to explore the animals collapsed state, which
you knew or ought reasonably to have known would have such an effect or be likely to do so,
contrary to Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
9. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to a certain protected animal, namely a piglet by failing to
seek appropriate professional veterinary care to explore the animals collapsed state, which
you knew or ought reasonably to have known would have such an effect or be likely to do so,
contrary to Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
10. That between the 22nd August 2018 and the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did cause
unnecessary suffering to certain protected animals, namely thirty two pigs by failing to provide them with a nutritionally
balanced diet suitable for their needs, which you knew or ought reasonably to have known
would have such an effect or be likely to do so, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare
Act 2006.
11.That on and before the 29th August 2018 at Chatteris he/you did not take such steps that
were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure the needs of certain protected animal,
namely one hundred and seven pigs for which you are responsible, were met to the extent
required by good practice, in that you did not ensure their need for a suitable diet, contrary to
Section 9(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
