Brentwood: Two Charged With Pig Cruelty

Two former Essex slaughterhouse workers are to be charged with animal cruelty after footage appeared to show pigs being attacked.

Piotr Andrzej Wasiuta, 29, from Southend will appear in court accused of stubbing out a lighted cigarette on the snout of one of the animals at Orchard Farm in West Horndon.

Kelly Smith, 40, from Benfleet, is facing prosecution for striking a pig with a baton, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Simon Clements, of the CPS, said he had advised the Food Standards Agency that there was sufficient prospect for conviction after footage was obtained by the animal rights group, Animal Aid, in March and April last year. Both are accused of offences while working for Cheale Meats.

Andrzej Wasiuta faces three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a pig by applying a lighted cigarette to its snout, while Smith faces four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a pig.

Referring to Smith, Mr Clements said: "Two of the charges relate to failing to ensure that a lame pig was not humanely slaughtered immediately and two of the charges relate to striking a pig with a baton."

He added: "This decision was taken in accordance with the code for Crown Prosecutors.

"After careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case."

Both will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 18.