Facing lawsuit over pong posts 'very scary'
BBCA campaigner says it is "very, very scary" to face a £20,000 lawsuit for Facebook posts about an unpleasant smell in a town which has been called the "Penrith Pong".
The odour has been linked to the Omega Proteins animal rendering factory in the town, but its operator has said the smell comes from "various sources".
Jeff Thomson, who started the Fresh Air for Penrith campaign, was shortlisted for an award by an international group that highlights Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
But Leo Group, which runs the plant and is taking legal action against Thompson for what it said were "baseless defamatory comments", denied acting contrary to any anti-SLAPP legislation.
The UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition defines such an action as "an abusive lawsuit filed by a private party with the purpose of silencing critical speech".
Thomson said Leo Group was trying to silence him for raising legitimate concerns about odour in the area.
He was nominated for an award at the European Anti-SLAPP Contest but did not win at a ceremony held on Tuesday.
Thompson said he had been able to secure free legal representation and was confident the lawsuit would fail, but the prospect of facing unaffordable costs had been "traumatising".
"It's overwhelming; it's scary, very, very scary," he said.
But he added that his case being highlighted by The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe showed "the little man" could have a voice.
Labour's Markus Campbell-Savours, who is the MP in Penrith and Solway, said the case highlighted the need for new legislation to protect people from SLAPPs.
Leo Group said: "Over the years Mr Thomson has made various baseless defamatory comments via his posts on Facebook and he has complained to various authorities in England and Wales against Leo Group.
"However, Leo Group has not in anyway acted contrary to any anti-SLAPP legislation."
Following an inspection in 2025, the Environment Agency said it found no breaches in the plant's environmental permit.
