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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Turkey cruelty workers sentenced | Turkey cruelty workers sentenced |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Two men who were secretly filmed beating turkeys with a stick have been ordered to do community service. | Two men who were secretly filmed beating turkeys with a stick have been ordered to do community service. |
| Norwich magistrates were told that Daniel Palmer, 27, and Neil Allan, 30, both from Dereham, Norfolk, used poles "like baseball bats" to hit turkeys. | Norwich magistrates were told that Daniel Palmer, 27, and Neil Allan, 30, both from Dereham, Norfolk, used poles "like baseball bats" to hit turkeys. |
| Both men admitted causing cruelty on 21 April this year at Bernard Matthews' Beck Farm in Felthorpe, near Norwich. | Both men admitted causing cruelty on 21 April this year at Bernard Matthews' Beck Farm in Felthorpe, near Norwich. |
| Allan said he was suffering from stress and saw it as a form of anger release. Palmer said he was ashamed. | Allan said he was suffering from stress and saw it as a form of anger release. Palmer said he was ashamed. |
| Jonathan Eales, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told magistrates that Palmer and Allen were both employed on contracts to work as turkey catchers. | Jonathan Eales, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told magistrates that Palmer and Allen were both employed on contracts to work as turkey catchers. |
| Mr Eales said undercover investigators who filmed them heard Allen say "you throw them, I'll hit them". | Mr Eales said undercover investigators who filmed them heard Allen say "you throw them, I'll hit them". |
| 'Appalling conditions' | 'Appalling conditions' |
| He said: "They were using poles which they had been using to help round up the turkeys and these were used like a baseball bat. | He said: "They were using poles which they had been using to help round up the turkeys and these were used like a baseball bat. |
| "(A vet) who saw the tape described the abuse as the most hideous and blatant actions he had seen in 25 years as a vet." | "(A vet) who saw the tape described the abuse as the most hideous and blatant actions he had seen in 25 years as a vet." |
| Simon Nicholls, defending both men, said he could offer no mitigation for what they had done. | Simon Nicholls, defending both men, said he could offer no mitigation for what they had done. |
| He said there was an irony in the fact the turkeys were going to be killed in any event. | He said there was an irony in the fact the turkeys were going to be killed in any event. |
| Mr Nicholls said the turkeys were kept in "appalling conditions". | |
| "Imagine working in that environment on a long term basis - it must be terrible," he said. | "Imagine working in that environment on a long term basis - it must be terrible," he said. |
| The pair were each ordered to complete a 200-hour community order. | The pair were each ordered to complete a 200-hour community order. |