chester slaughterhouse g. & g.b. hewitt limited and employees Animal Abuser

CONVICTED (2023) | the legal entity of G.

& G.B.

Hewitt Limited, which trades from premises in Church Lane, Huxley, Chester CH3 9BH, company director Gerald Mark Hewitt, and slaughtermen Mark Lee Hewitt, Stephen Mayren, Joseph Anthony Arden, Matthew David Arden and Paul May – for horrific cruelty towards livestock sent for slaughter.

L-R Matt Arden, Paul May, Tony Arden (top) and Stephen Mayren Gerald Hewitt, who is also a director of G and GB Hewitt Ltd G and GB Hewitt Ltd operates a slaughterhouse where cattle, sheep and pigs are slaughtered.

In addition to the company itself, the defendants, all slaughtermen, were: Gerald Mark Hewitt, born May 1963, of 19 Bowmere Road, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0BS Mark Lee Hewitt, born c.

1988, of Yew Tree House, Church Lane, Huxley, Chester, Cheshire CH3 9BH.

Stephen Mayren, born 4 March 1957, of 11 Castle Avenue, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire FY6 7NW.

Joseph Anthony Arden aka Tony Arden, born c.

1956, from Nantwich, Cheshire.

Matthew David Arden, born c.

1990, of 4 Fields View, Burleydam, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 4BD.

Paul May, born 17 August 1973, of Belton Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13.

The firm and its operations were investigated after secret cameras put in place by the Animal Justice Project captured horrific routine abuse of livestock at the hands of operatives.

One clip showed a live piglet being thrown into a scalding water tank, while other footage showed piglets having their throats cut before being thrown onto a pile, without any checks for signs of life.

Evidence was also compiled to show insufficient stun times, the beating of cows and bulls, and the hacking into the throats and limbs of animals while they were still thrashing.

Following review by veterinary staff from the Food Standards Agency, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) brought charges against the firm and the six individuals named above.

The CPS identified several breaches from the CCTV including: The way the animals were handled before and during slaughter.

The repeated use of electrical instruments to move the animals.

Young animals left without food for too long before being slaughtered.

Staff were seen conducting processes that required certification of the necessary competence, which they did not possess.

At Crewe Magistrates’ Court on 3 May 2023 all the defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced as follows: G and GB Hewitt Ltd (slaughterhouse operators) fined £19,500, £100 statutory surcharge and £500 costs.

Gerald Hewitt fined £1,000, £100 statutory surcharge and £100 costs.

Matthew Arden fined £1,050, £105 statutory surcharge and £100 costs.

Stephen Mayren fined £1395, £139 statutory surcharge and £100 costs.

Mark Hewitt fined £525, £52 statutory surcharge and £100 costs.

Paul May fined £525, £52 statutory surcharge and £100 costs.

Joseph Arden fined £160, £34 statutory surcharge and £100 costs.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Maqsood Khan, of CPS Mersey Cheshire said: “The CCTV from the G and GB Hewitt slaughterhouse showed many examples of the animals being in avoidable pain, distress and suffering.

“The footage showed unacceptable practices and demonstrated a poor cultural attitude to animal welfare within the premises.

The law in this area is strict and clear and this slaughterhouse flouted it on many occasions.

“This is not only unacceptable, but also criminal.

These men have pleaded guilty so this case has been resolved relatively quickly.” A spokesperson for the Food Standard Agency said: “We welcome the successful outcome of this case.

The operator of this slaughterhouse has taken the incident seriously by correcting deficiencies and improving standards in animal welfare, and is now compliant with all legislative requirements.

“This case should act as a deterrent to others as the FSA has a zero tolerance approach to animal welfare breaches.

We monitor standards of animal welfare at approved slaughterhouses in England and Wales and all staff are instructed to take prompt enforcement action where breaches are identified.

We’re working with partner agencies and industry to continuously improve animal welfare.

“ CPS News Release Animal Justice Project investigation