Man given 10-year pig-keeping ban

A man who set up a well-known pig-rearing company in Cornwall has been banned from keeping pigs for 10 years.

Inspectors found lame animals and decomposing carcasses during visits to Nicholas Stickings' Cornish Pig Company at Bissoe, Truro Crown Court heard.

The court heard how Stickings invested £400,000 in the venture in 2004 despite having no pig-rearing experience.

Stickings, 38, had admitted 14 animal welfare charges and was found guilty of failing to dispose of carcasses.

Jobs lost

Judge Christopher Elwen ordered him to pay fines totalling £14,500 plus £4,000 in costs.

The court heard the venture had been set up with six large rare breed pigs, but by last November the numbers had swelled to 250.

After receiving complaints animal welfare inspectors found three carcasses in fields, together with lame animals and others which had not been treated for lice or worms.

On a subsequent visit three further decomposing bodies were found.

The court was told Stickings blamed his workforce but finally accepted it was his responsibility.

Defence counsel Edward Bailey said Stickings realised he had far too many animals for the land he was renting at Fernsplatt.

He had read about keeping pigs but had never been to agricultural college.

Fifteen employees at the Cornish Pig Company also lost their jobs following the hearing on Friday.