Two animal activists who broke into a Pinjarra piggery and live-streamed the act for 90 minutes have been fined more than $10,000 combined, after appearing in the Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday.
James Darren Warden, 25, pleaded guilty to trespassing at a Mundijong farm and Blythewood's GD Pork Pty Ltd, and being in the possession of pepper spray.
Katrina Sobianina, 24, pleaded guilty to trespassing at GD Pork Pty Ltd.
Police prosecutor Nev Palmer told the court Warden and Sobianina entered the Pinjarra piggery on February 25, through a large shed at about 12.30am.
The pair donned disposable gloves, overalls and covered shoes.
Sergeant Palmer said the act was live-streamed to the Direct Action Everywhere Facebook page and the pair answered questions from people across the world for about 90 minutes.
Several members of the activist group attended court, with about 20 supporters of the charged duo present.
Sergeant Palmer said community members with the same name as Warden had endured death threats following the offending.
He said Warden acted alone in the first offence by taking pictures of pigs in a feed lot at a Mundijong farm on February 6.
A staff member told him to leave, but he said he was looking for breaches of animal cruelty.
Warden was found in possession of pepper spray at his home, on December 26, 2018.
The maximum penalty for trespassing is $12,000 fine or 12 months jail.
Warden's lawyer Chad Silver told the court his client, who is currently unemployed, was an engineer who had also worked as a chef.
Mr Silver said Warden had also received death threats in the wake of the offending.
Sobianina's lawyer Clare Hay told the court her client had only been involved in activism for the past six months.
"She made the mistake of her passions to overcome her sense," she said.
"The passion for which she believed in, overtook the impact of what this would have on her future."
Ms Hay said Sobianina worked part time at Burswood Casino and had a diploma in Education.
She said a criminal record would affect Sobianina's ability to work with children in the future.
Sobianina was fined $3000 with $107.50 costs and granted a spent conviction.
Warden was fined $6500 for the trespassing, $500 for possessing pepper spray and $355 costs.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
