Man jailed for killing 120 pigs in £750,000 farm arson spree

An arsonist who torched three Norfolk farms, which police said caused about £750,000 worth of damage and killed 120 pigs, has been jailed for four years.

Jordan Chenery, 23, appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 8 September, after pleading guilty to three counts of arson, having previously denied the offences.

The charges relate to three arson attacks he carried out on farms within three miles of each other in the Diss area in 2019.

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On 26 September, Chenery set fire to a storage barn next to a piggery at Deal House Farm, in Kenninghall Road, Bressingham, which destroyed the building and killed 120 pigs. It also damaged many hay bales and farm machinery.

Devastated farmer Des Aves said the blaze caused up to £500,000 worth of damage.

Many of the pigs perished in the flames and others had to be humanely euthanised due to the extent of their injuries.

In the second incident on 27 September, Chenery torched a large stack of hay bales at Pear Tree Farm, in Fersfield Road, Kenninghall, near Norwich, owned by farmer Edward Wood. This caused £76,000 worth of damage.

The third incident on 30 October that year, at a farm at Boyland Hall, also in Bressingham, belonging to farmer David Brown, saw Chenery set 400t of straw alight and it caused £75,000 worth of damage.

Chenery’s lawyer told the court that he was aged 20 at the time of the attacks and his motive remains unclear. But he was extremely remorseful and apologetic for his actions.

Recorder Guy Ayers jailed Chenery, formerly of Roydon, near Diss, who is now living in Basildon, Essex, for four years.

Speaking after sentencing, investigating officer PC Phil Cook, from Norfolk Constabulary, said: “Farms being targeted by arson are thankfully rare, however, they have an unmeasurable impact on the victim and wider rural communities.

“We take rural crime seriously and we are pleased that on this occasion we have been able to identify and successfully prosecute the person responsible.”

A spokeswoman for Norfolk Constabulary said: “The £750,000 total takes into account the additional costs involved in rectifying the damage caused by the arson rather than just the value of the items damaged which has been quoted elsewhere.”