DAVID COTTRELL FROM WHICKHAM BANNED FOR LIFE AFTER HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN COUNTY DURHAM

David Cottrell, a resident of Whickham, was found guilty in 2019 of causing prolonged suffering to pigs kept under appalling conditions. The conviction stems from a series of serious animal welfare violations that took place at his property located on Manor Road in Medomsley, County Durham, during the months of March through October 2018.

Cottrell, born on October 9, 1966, and residing on Sandringham Drive in Newcastle upon Tyne, was charged with a total of 31 offences related to the neglect and mistreatment of farmed animals. These charges included being responsible for the welfare of farm animals and failing to ensure they were kept in appropriate conditions, in violation of regulations outlined in the Animal Welfare Act, specifically regulations 4, 5, and 7.

The investigation was initiated after animal health inspectors, accompanied by police officers, visited Cottrell’s site on March 23, 2018. During this initial inspection, they discovered a distressing scene: a pen housing 11 pigs was filled with deep slurry, with no dry area for the animals to rest, and notably, no water was available for them. The inspectors also found two pig carcasses lying in the pen, indicating neglect and possible disease or death due to poor conditions.

In addition to this, another pen containing a single pig was found without access to water. Piglets were confined in a small, overcrowded enclosure, with their drinking water contaminated and filthy. The inspectors extended their search to the surrounding fields, where they uncovered horses with access to a large pile of debris and wood that contained nails and sharp objects, posing a significant risk of injury. Sheep carcasses were also discovered in the vicinity, further highlighting the neglect.

Despite being issued a notice to dispose of the animal by-products, Cottrell failed to comply. When authorities returned weeks later, conditions had not improved. The field still lacked dry lying areas for 23 pigs, and the dangerous debris with sharp objects remained accessible to the horses. A subsequent visit in October 2018 revealed even more severe neglect: five underweight pigs were found with no available feed, and six adolescent pigs were crammed into a small pen, standing knee-deep in slurry and filthy water.

As a result of these ongoing violations, the council seized a total of 44 pigs, along with piglets, in November 2018. Some of these pigs had since given birth to piglets, and the total number of pigs on the property eventually reached approximately 150. Cottrell only consented to the sale of these animals in June, after which the costs associated with their care amounted to £27,765, offset by the proceeds from their sale.

A probation report revealed that Cottrell had suffered serious injuries in a horse accident more than three years prior to these events. During interviews with probation officers, he explained that at the time of the neglect, he was caring for his terminally ill mother and elderly father, which he claimed had become overwhelming. He also cited issues with a contractor responsible for providing feed, which he said had let him down.

Currently, Cottrell is in the process of selling the land where the animals were kept. He has transitioned into working as a private security contractor and as a takeaway driver. His sentencing included a 12-month community order, requiring 300 hours of unpaid work and 15 probation activity days. Additionally, he was ordered to pay £24,919, covering the costs of animal care and legal expenses. As part of his punishment, Cottrell is disqualified from owning or keeping pigs, sheep, poultry, and horses for the rest of his life.