Elsham Linc Limited, a subsidiary of Cranswick Plc, and the manager of Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire have appeared before Nottingham Justice Centre in connection with a total of 30 alleged animal welfare offences.
The proceedings come as a result of an investigation carried out by the Animal Justice Project at Northmoor Farm, which houses more than 6,000 pigs, between February and March 2024. The investigation alleges a range of animal welfare failings at the facility.
In total, Elsham Linc, which operates Northmoor Farm near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, faces 23 alleged offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 and the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013.
The allegations include causing unnecessary suffering to pigs, permitting routine mutilations (teeth grinding and tail docking), failing to ensure welfare needs, failing to restrain an animal during killing, using a non-mechanical percussive blow to kill an animal and failing to properly store or dispose of a dead sow.
Northmoor Farm manager Andrew Pentecost faces seven alleged offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015.
The allegations against him include causing unnecessary suffering to pigs, permitting routine mutilations (teeth grinding and tail docking), and failing to restrain an animal during killing and using a non-mechanical percussive blow to kill an animal.
The offences are alleged to have taken place at Northmoor Farm, Market Rasen LN8 3JF between February and March 2024.
At the first appearance before District Judge Leong, the court approved a case management timetable, directing the prosecution to provide written responses to the defence disclosure requests by 9 September 2026, with any defence reply by 23 September 2026.
The court indicated that any disclosure disputes should be dealt with on paper where possible, with a potential Section 8 Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA) hearing listed for 8 October 2026 if required.
Directions were also made for any abuse-of-process application, with service by the defendants by 21 October 2026 and the prosecution response by 18 November 2026.
The substantive abuse-of-process hearing was listed at Lincoln on 1 February 2027 before District Judge Leong, who confirmed that she would retain conduct of the case and provide a written ruling if appropriate.
The prosecution was brought by Lawyers for Animals following an assessment by its legal team of the evidence gathered during the investigation and a subsequent expert veterinary review prior to an application for summons.
Nobody has yet been found guilty, and the court has not yet decided whether the allegations are true.
Cranswick acquired Elsham Linc, including its Northmoor Farm, for £13.6 million in August 2023.
Following incidences of animal abuse exposed at a handful of its farms, Cranswick announced a six-point plan to improve its animal welfare last November.
