A 48-year-old worker at a feral pig farm in the United Kingdom is faced with the possibility of imprisonment, after admitting that he systematically abused animals, kicking them and hitting them with a pitchfork and plastic pipe. The case was revealed following a secret search of a pro-animal organization.
48-year-old Stephen Wolger repeatedly hit the animals with a metal tool with spikes and a plastic pipe, while working on a farm near Norfolk. The animal abuse frames became headlines two years ago, when the case was brought to light by Animal Justice Project after an investigation carried out.
Wolger represented himself during the hearing at Norwich Peace Court and confessed his guilt this week over eight counts of mistreatment and violation of animal welfare, according to Daily Mail.
Of the 781 hours of video footage, it was found that animals at the wild boar farm "Innovis Gene Centre East", were tortured between May and September 2024. The footage secretly taken was delivered by the Animal Justice Project to Norfolk's Commercial Standards Service, which prosecuted.
Prosecutors said Wolger had used a sharp object with excessive force on at least four occasions and that his actions were not "an instant action".
Judge Matthew Bone warned him that all penalty options would be considered, including immediate detention, due to "a pattern of behavior that turns against animals for a time".
Wolger will also be called upon to face a request to ban property or animal work when his sentence is issued on August 5.
Innovis Ltd, who is the owner and manager of the farm, its managing director, Dewi Jones, and farm manager, Nigel Walpol, have also been accused of not preventing unnecessary animal suffering as responsible.
Dr. Alice Brough, a veterinarian specialized in pigs, stated: "The visual material gathered during this investigation showed that the handling and treatment of pigs were completely unacceptable".
"The aggressive handling, the obvious misuse of equipment and negligence seen in the video caused serious concerns about animal welfare. This result reflects the importance of seriously treating animal welfare violations and ensuring proper implementation of standards," he noted.
Irton Cooper, director of Animal Justice Project campaigns, said: "Last night's result is an important moment for animal protection and accountability in the British agricultural sector. Our investigators recorded scenes that were painful and impossible to forget. This result sends a clear message that no farm, company or person is free from control, and that cruelty behind closed doors can have serious consequences.".