Undercover Video Showing Abuse at U.K. Pig Factory Farm Leads to Charges

In May, heartbreaking footage captured by animal rights group Animal Equality exposed horrific abuse at a British pig farm.

Hidden cameras at Fir Tree Farm in Lincolnshire, which is owned by one of Britain’s largest pork producers, revealed workers repeatedly kicking pigs in the face, beating them with plastic boards, and leaving a downed pig too sick to stand without veterinary care for 48 hours before shooting the poor animal.

This was the third time the group had recorded workers violently abusing animals at British farms.

Watch the shocking footage yourself.


Earlier this week, three men in the undercover footage were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between April 2, 2018, and April 27, 2018.

In the video Artis Grogprkevs, Gavin Hardy, and Troy Wagstaff can be seen jabbing pigs with a pitchfork and repeatedly kicking the animals in the face and head.

A recent article in Metro reports that Grogprkevs, Hardy, and Wagstaff have been charged with “causing unnecessary suffering to landrace pigs “by inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and using a pitchfork inappropriately.

The three men were due to appear in court October 26, but since the RSPCA had not served the men the relevant paperwork, the case was adjourned until November 22.

No matter where they are in the world, factory farms are rife with abuse. As Mercy For Animals investigations have repeatedly shown, animal cruelty is the norm in the pork industry.

But when it comes to holding individuals accountable for abusing farmed animals in the United States and Canada, MFA has turned the tide. In the past few years, our work has resulted in the criminal prosecutions of dozens of factory farm owners, managers, and employees for animal abuse.

An MFA undercover investigation at a North Carolina turkey factory farm operated by Butterball exposed workers beating, kicking, and throwing birds. The investigation led to the criminal convictions of five Butterball workers, including the first-ever felony conviction for cruelty to factory-farmed poultry in U.S. history. And after an MFA investigation at New York state’s largest dairy factory farm, a worker was convicted of criminal animal cruelty for hitting a cow with a metal wrench.


Additionally, four workers at a southern Mississippi livestock auction were convicted of criminal animal abuse for kicking, beating, and dragging cows, sheep, pigs, and other animals after an MFA undercover investigation.


If we wouldn’t treat dogs or cats in such appalling ways, how can we pay the meat industry to do it to farmed animals? Each of us has the power to say no to animal abuse by replacing inherently cruel animal products with compassionate vegan alternatives.

So what are you waiting for? Order your FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide today. And check out our Pinterest page for thousands of recipe ideas!