FSA welcomes conviction of abattoir worker

By Matt Atherton

- Last updated on GMT

A slaughterman has been sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for animal welfare offences
A slaughterman has been sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for animal welfare offences

Related tags Food standards agency

A man was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment on August 22, after pleading guilty to 24 animal welfare offences, including serious animal welfare breaches, food safety offences and trading standards offences.

Anthony Bagshaw, 36, was recorded forcefully grabbing animals by their heads and necks, as well as throwing a sheep against a metal gate.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said that it welcomed the prosecution of Anthony Bagshaw, who was the subject of covert camera joint operation by the FSA and a not-for-profit organisation.

Bagshaw was sentenced to eight months imprisonment at Stafford Crown Court for food safety offences, and an additional two months for the animal welfare/movement offences.

Wanton cruelty

Some of Bagshaw’s welfare offences included hitting sheep on the head with a stun gun and kicking a pig in the face. His Honour Judge Gosling described the offenses as “wanton cruelty”​ at the sentencing.

Gosling said that Bagshaw “disregarded regulatory requirements deliberately and over a long period​ [of time]​, and that his food offences “put food safety seriously at risk”​. He added that Bagshaw’s “treatment of a number of animals was a shock even to an observer with no interest in the welfare of stock for slaughter”​.

FSA chief operating officer Jason Feeney said: We welcome the sentencing today and are pleased that the defendant recognised he broke the law in relation to meat hygiene and animal welfare breaches.

‘FSA will not tolerate’

“The FSA will not tolerate food crime that endangers both consumers and animals alike. We hope the sentencing is a major deterrent to those who think they can profit from cutting corners and jeopardising food safety.

“I would like to thank Stafford County Council and the police service for working closely with the FSA to ensure food criminals are brought to justice.”

Anthony Bagshaw offences

  • Serious animal welfare breaches
  • Food safety offences (illegal slaughter without inspections taking place or slaughtering a species he was not licensed to slaughter)
  • Movement of animals without proper authorisation
  • Trading standards offences (sale of meat without traceability information)

 

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