Hillside Animal Rescue launches legal action against Bernard Matthews
Dec
30
Written by:
30/12/2011 15:07
Hillside Animal Rescue founder Wendy Valentine claims car was bugged by the turkey firm -investigators sued for harassment and misusing private information about her movements.
Bernard Matthews allegedly hired a private detective to put a tracker on the car of Hillside Animal Sanctuary founder Wendy Valentine, who exposed cruelty at one of the company's farms. Valentine claims the company paid experts to carry out the surveillance on her. Bernard Matthews and Richmond, Day & Wilson Limited, which provides private, undercover and covert investigations, are being sued by her for harassment and misusing private information about her movements. The court action came five years after her charity uncovered workers at a Matthews farm playing a sick game of rounders with the turkeys. Ms Valentine’s solicitors PSB Law said: “We can confirm we have lodged papers at the High Court against private investigators RDW Limited and the turkey producer Bernard Matthews. The case relates to the covert tracking of our client’s car, misuse of private information and harassment.” The tracking device was allegedly put on the car in March. It was found in August. Lawyers claim a signal was allegedly received at the offices of the private detectives on a bespoke computer programme which provided the exact position of the vehicle within the UK. Ms Valentine is claiming aggravated damages for harassment and is also seeking an injunction to restrain the defendants and asking for details of any surveillance to be revealed.
Bernard Matthews Ltd confirmed it had been cited as a co-defendant in the civil claim. A spokesman added: “We emphatically deny Ms Valentine’s allegation we engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation against her. We use Richmond Day & Wilson Limited, as well as several other firms, to implement security. The simple objective is to ensure the safety and health of the poultry on farms.” In 2006, Hillside secretly filmed Bernard Matthews workers joking as one kicked birds at Beck Farm, Haveringland, Norfolk. A 5ft wood handle was also used to batter them as they flew through the air. Daniel Palmer, then 27, and Neil Allen, then 30, admitted cruelty and were given community service by magistrates.
To find out more about the work of Hillside Animal Rescue, which both rescues and exposes abuse of farm animals, click here