A teenager who broke into chicken sheds in three farms in Suffolk and Essex has been banned from going near land used for livestock or poultry farming.
Sebastian Brown broke into the sheds in Essex and a further two in north Suffolk in a bid to expose animal welfare issues.
None of the farms have been found to have breached any welfare laws.
The 18-year-old was caught with bolt cutters and a claw hammer after police were called to the Essex farm in September last year.
Officers discovered handwritten notes at his home address in Colchester which linked him to the other break ins.
Mr Brown was initially charged with burglary but admitted three counts of criminal damage and was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court last weekto a three-year community order, 240 hours’ unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation order.
He was also made the subject of a three-year criminal behaviour order banning him from loitering near livestock and poultry farms.
'A lot of damage'
Due to the fact the offending took place over two counties, the investigation was carried out by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).
Detective Inspector Maz Wheeler said: “Sebastian Brown caused a lot of damage and disruption to these farms which had been acting entirely legitimately.
“It is unacceptable for anyone to try to take the law into their own hands, and he will have plenty of time to reflect on his actions while he is carrying out unpaid work in the community.”
National Pig Association chief executive Zoe Davies said: "It is good to see justice being done when criminal damage is caused in the name of animal rights activism.
"No one should assume that they are above the law, however justified they think that their action is”.
