Polly the pig severely injured in alleged attack, men charged with bestiality, torture

UPDATE: Two men accused of bestiality and torture in relation to 12-year-old Polly the pig and several chickens on the NSW north coast have been refused bail.

TWO men accused of bestiality and torture in relation to 12-year-old Polly the pig and several chickens on the NSW north coast have been refused bail.

Both men were on parole at the time of the alleged offences, which made a successful bail application unlikely.

Clad in a green jumpsuit, with a crew cut and a visible neck tattoo of Australia with the numbers “95” inside, Bradley Presbury made the first appearance.

Accused Reece Parke gives the finger to the media as he’s led into the police station. Picture: Northern Star

Bradley Presbury and his co-accused were arrested last night. Picture: The Northern Star

Reece Parke, 22, is led into the police station. Picture: Northern Star

Mr Bolt also said there were “conflicting versions” of what allegedly happened on the night of the crimes and there was some prospect of Presbury being found not guilty of the charges.

Police only had circumstantial evidence and could only place Presbury “near to the scene”, he said.

However Magistrate Paul McMahon said the Presbury had failed to show cause for his release, and denied bail.

Polly the Pig suffered serious injuries during the alleged attack at the Djanbung Permaculture Gardens in Nimbin.

Presbury waved and called out “love you bro” as he was led away.

Reece Parke, 22, appeared briefly afterwards.

Both men are charged with two counts of torturing, beating, and causing the death of an animal, and one count of bestiality.

Djanbung Permaculture Gardens in Nimbin.

The 12-year-old pig, Polly, displaying several cuts to its snout. Picture: Supplied

Police arrested the pair yesterday afternoon at a home on Teven Rd, Teven after 10 dead chickens were found with broken necks and bones on a commercial permaculture farm in Nimbin the day before.

Workers at the farm came across the chickens, as well as 12-year-old pig Polly, which was found with serious internal and external injuries.

The charge of bestiality carries a maximum penalty in NSW of 14 years’ imprisonment.

Mr Bolt conceded that Parke was not able to show cause for bail given he was in breach of parole.

Mr Bolt also sought a non-publication order on the men’s names, arguing the charges were “significant if not disturbing” and the men could be “subject to harm in the prison community” if their alleged crimes became widely known.

But the police prosecutor argued that it was in the community’s interests that the details of the alleged crimes were disclosed.

Magistrate McMahon said in the absence of a formal application he was not able to grant such an order.

Presbury and Parke will reappear in court on January 17 via video link.

Originally published as Polly the pig severely injured in alleged attack, men charged with bestiality, torture