David Britton was sentenced after pleading guilty to keeping pigs in an unsuitable environment
The pigs were found to be living in unsuitable conditions(Image: East Riding of Yorkshire Council)
A man has been banned from owning pigs, was given a curfew and ordered to pay court costs after a member of the public reported animals being kept in unsafe conditions on his property. David Britton, of High Street, Airmyn, was sentenced on Monday 14 September at Hull Magistrates Court, following a prosecution brought by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The animals were removed from Britton’s care and he was handed a 10-year ban from owning pigs.
The 60-year-old was sentenced after entering a guilty plea to keeping pigs in an unsuitable environment due to the condition of the area in which they were housed. He entered his plea on 13 July at Beverley Magistrates’ Court. Britton had been on the council’s animal health team’s radar for some time, having been given advice and guidance as far back as 2017. In 2021 he was issued with an Improvement Notice under the animal welfare act, but had failed to consistently improve the conditions in which the pigs were kept.
In May 2023, a concerned member of the public contacted Council officers about the welfare of pigs visible from a public footpath next to the property, and an investigation was launched. During inspections, officers found pigs being kept in an area containing significant amounts of scrap materials, including old domestic appliances, building materials, metal objects and other debris.
Officers observed that fencing, designed to separate the pigs from some of the hazards, was poorly maintained and did not provide enough protection. Further inspections found that, despite some improvements, numerous hazards remained within the enclosure. A senior veterinary inspector from the Animal and Plant Health Agency inspected the premises in December 2023 and concluded that the environment in which the pigs were being kept was unsuitable.
A veterinary review of the evidence found the pigs had been kept in an unsuitable environment containing multiple hazards. It found the concerns had not been adequately addressed, despite Britton being handed several opportunities to do so.
The court also heard how East Riding Council’s animal health team had visited Britton with similar concerns since 2017. Officers had provided advice and guidance, and in 2021 an Improvement Notice had been served under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Although some remedial work was done by Britton, this were to the minimum requirement and not consistently maintained. He was sentenced to a 26-week curfew from 7pm to 7am and ordered to pay £1000 towards the prosecution costs as well as a £114 victim surcharge.
He was also ordered to immediately surrender the pigs. They have been removed from the premises and Britton was disqualified in respect of pigs from owning them, keeping them, participating in keeping them and from being party to an arrangement under which the defendant is entitled to control or influence the way in which they are kept, for a period of 10 years.
District Judge Bryan said the Animal Welfare Act 2006 was brought in for the purposes of protecting animals from pain and suffering. It places requirements on owners to prevent suffering and provide a suitable environment. The judge said Mr Britton had been given numerous warnings and is clearly not a fit and proper person. She accepted the pigs did not suffer harm but stated this was by way of good luck rather than good judgement.
Councillor Lyn Healing, East Riding of Yorkshire Council cabinet member for communities and public protection said: “We’re dedicated to enforcing animal welfare standards and taking appropriate enforcement action to protect animals from unnecessary and poor living conditions. We will always seek to work with keepers to achieve compliance through advice and education whenever possible. However, we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action when necessary. Keepers must ensure they abide by animal welfare regulations, whether they own livestock animals on a commercial, pet, or hobby basis.”
Concerns about welfare of livestock animals can be reported to East Riding of Yorkshire Council here.
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