Farm Worker Receives Suspended Sentence for Animal Cruelty
A farm worker who was filmed kicking and hitting pigs with a pitchfork has received a suspended jail sentence after admitting to eight animal cruelty offenses.
Steven Woolger, 48, was given a 17-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, by District Judge Matthew Bone at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court. The sentence was handed down after Woolger pleaded guilty to eight animal cruelty charges stemming from incidents recorded between May and September 2024 at the Innovis Gene Centre East boar stud farm in Burgh Castle, Norfolk.
Animal rights activists from Animal Justice Project placed hidden cameras on the premises, documenting Woolger's mistreatment of the animals. The footage showed him repeatedly kicking pigs and striking them with a pitchfork and a plastic pipe. Prosecutors stated that Woolger caused unnecessary suffering to the pigs and acknowledged that a pitchfork was an inappropriate tool to use on animals.
Woolger's defense attorney highlighted his client's significant mental health struggles at the time of the offenses. She explained that Woolger's wife had experienced a difficult pregnancy resulting in a premature birth, followed by a miscarriage. He was the sole breadwinner for his family, returning to work while fraught, exhausted, and suffering from PTSD. The defense also noted that Woolger had been employed by the company since 2013 with an unblemished record and had raised concerns about inadequate equipment and farm conditions, which were reportedly dismissed due to budget constraints.
Woolger admitted to four offenses of causing unnecessary suffering to pigs and four charges of failing to ensure their welfare needs. He has since lost his job and is currently receiving benefits while seeking new employment. His marriage has also reportedly been strained.
District Judge Bone acknowledged that the acts were deliberate and occurred repeatedly over an extended period, constituting a breach of Woolger's responsibility to care for the animals. However, the judge took into account Woolger's personal circumstances, evidence of PTSD, stress, and anxiety, as well as his early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. The judge also noted Woolger's family responsibilities and his prospect for rehabilitation.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Woolger has been disqualified from working with or having any involvement in farm animals for ten years. He was also ordered to pay £1,500 in prosecution costs and a £154 surcharge.
Ayrton Cooper, campaigns director for Animal Justice Project, described the prosecution as a significant moment for animal protection and accountability within British farming, emphasizing that cruelty behind closed doors can have serious consequences.