Man Banned From Keeping Farm Animals After Illegal Pig Farm Found In Harborough District

A man has been given a suspended jail sentence and banned from keeping farm animals for ten years after an illegal pig farm was discovered in the Harborough District.

Robert Emerson, 73, pleaded guilty to permitting others to engage in cruelty on the premises (slaughter of the pigs and related operations such as tying up the animals with no water and no dry lying area prior to killing).

Leicester Magistrates’ heard Police found a number of pigs which had been slaughtered illegally at Far Hill Farm, Dunton Road, Leire near Lutterworth on December 11th 2021.

An off-duty police officer driving past the premises noticed a large group of men at the site and called other officers, before it transpired they had congregated at the site to buy pigs from Mr Emerson to be eaten at Christmas.

The pigs were being sold live for £170 each before being killed, illegally, on the premises.

Four recently-killed pigs were found lying on the farmyard, and another pig had been loaded into the back of a car.

Approximately 130 live pigs were found by Trading Standards animal welfare officers at the site in conditions which were unfit for their needs.

Some pigs had to be put down, while others were seized by Leicestershire County Council.

Pic: Leicestershire Trading Standards

Emerson, of of Orchard Road, Broughton Astley, also pleaded guilty to single Animal By-Products offence, which related to the generation of viscera at the scene and was sentenced yesterday to five months in prison, suspended for a year and handed a disqualification order, which prevents him from owning, keeping, or being involved in the control of farm animals for ten years.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £1,500 and a £128 victim surcharge.

The prosecution was brought by Leicestershire Trading Standards and head of the service Gary Connors, said: “This has been a distressing case in which greed played its part. Robert Emerson found an opportunity to make money from his animals by selling them for the Christmas table.

“While there was some evidence of pressure being placed upon him, he did nothing to stop it. Instead, he decided to place money before the welfare of his animals.

“This not only caused unnecessary suffering to his animals, but also posed a risk to the human food chain. Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards will not tolerate this type of activity and will not hesitate to take enforcement action.”