AN abattoir worker has been hit with a £2,350 court bill for cruelty to a number of cows.

Andrezej Gutowski pleaded guilty at Taunton Magistrates' Court yesterday (Thursday, March 17) to three offences while working in the slaughterhouse at Staplegrove Mills, on the outskirts of Taunton.

All three crimes related to incidents at the Staplegrove location on March 26 last year.

Gutowski, 53, of Pyrland Fields, Taunton, admitted two counts of failing to spare an animal avoidable pain, distress or suffering at the time of killing.

In the first case, he prodded three young dairy cows with a goad including in prohibited areas while moving them to the stunning pen.

In the other instance, he kicked a young dairy cow.

The third charge involved attempting to place a young cow into the stunning pen facing backwards, thereby failing to ensure the animal was moved with care.

Gutowski was fined a total of £2,000 along with a £190 victim surcharge and £160 costs.