A 60 year old from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, has been found guilty of causing suffering to 13 pigs.

Bred for the commercial market, the animals had bones sticking out, chronic mange and worms.

“The state of the pigs was evident even from the roadside. They were all underweight and some severely underweight, said RSPCA inspector Rebecca Bedson.

“Mr Barker was feeding them an inadequate diet. Pigs need protein and he was only giving them sugar beet and potatoes on the day we visited the farm with a vet,“ added Rebecca Bedson.

Mr Leslier Barker, whose pigs were in a malnourished and mistreated state, was given a 12 week sentence suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay 31,500 costs and to complete 150 hours of unpaid community service.