CONVICTED (2022) | wildlife killers Dale Rickerby, born 23 June 1994, and Michael James Rickerby, born 24 March 1990, of 68 Warnell Drive, Carlisle CA1 3LR – used a shovel to “bludgeon” a badger before tossing the terrified animal to their dogs.
The horrific badger baiting incident, which took place in October 2021 in Holme Lane near the village of Aglionby in Cumbria, was conducted primarily by Dale Rickerby, but he was assisted by his older brother Michael James Rickerby,
The brothers denied any wrong-doing despite evidence that they had dug a deep hole to give their dog access to the badger in its sett.
Dale Rickerby said the pair were in the area “legally” hunting for rabbits when they happened to see the badger which then attacked their bull lurcher, Bronson. He claimed to have used the shovel on the badger to “protect” the dog.
The court didn’t believe them, however, and the brothers were convicted of “wilfully killing a badger” following a one-day trial.
Dale Rickerby was also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to Bronson by setting him on a badger and of failing to ensure the dog’s welfare.
He did this by failing to take reasonable steps to protect the dog from pain, suffering and injury in his encounters with other animals.
Both men were represented by Clive Rees, who said that his clients were fathers to young children and represented a “low risk” of reoffending.
Passing sentence, District Judge Temperley first addressed Dale Rickerby, telling him: “You will remember that at the conclusion of the trial I found that you were primarily responsible, not only for the death of the badger; but also for the significant injury caused to your own dog Bronson.”
When the badger had emerged from the “man-made” hole that exposed its sett, Dale Rickerby “bludgeoned it over the head with the spade,” said the judge. The defendant then tossed the dazed animal to the dogs.
The judge said a background Probation Service report showed clearly that Dale Rickerby did not accept the court’s guilty verdict.
The judge jailed the defendant for 20 weeks. He also imposed an order transferring ownership of Bronson to the RSPCA. Dale Rickerby will be banned from owning or looking after any animal for five years. When released, he must pay £500 prosecution costs.
Turning to Michael Rickerby, the judge said he had “encouraged and aided” his brother, with this including him driving another member of the group away from the scene with some of the dogs they had brought.
The judge imposed 12 weeks jail, suspended for a year. Michael Rickerby must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 prosecution costs. He was banned from owning or caring for any dog for five years.
Members of the defendants’ family were in court to support them.
After the trial, RSPCA inspector Ian Muttitt, from the charity’s northern Special Operations Unit, said both the dog and the badger suffered horrifically. “The dog was significantly injured; basically, the skin from the bottom of its jaw was ripped off,” he said.
“But police spotted the two males in the car quickly and luckily the dog was taken to the vets straight away and treated. It’s made a full recovery. But often they don’t receive veterinary treatment.”
Sentencing |
Dale Rickerby: 20 weeks in jail; £500 towards costs. Banned from owning or looking after any animal for five years (expires December 2027).
Michael Rickerby: 12 weeks in jail suspended for one year; 200 hours of unpaid work; £1,000 prosecution costs. Banned from owning or caring for any dog for five years (expires December 2027).
Additional Information
In February 2022 Dale Rickerby was given a eight-week curfew and 18-month driving ban after being caught driving with cannabis and cocaine in his system.
Rickerby’s VW Golf was stopped by police who were in the area investigating suspected badger baiting.
Rickerby, who at the time was working as a mobile cleaner, pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit for both illegal drugs.
The court heard that Rickerby had previous convictions for possessing amphetamine and cannabis.
The curfew will be served at a property in Tindale Drive, Harraby, and not the Warnell Drive address.
Bit Of Work The Scum Want’s.
They wouldn’t have the energy to go out Digging or Hunting.
Or whatever else they have been up to before they were caught.
They won’t have no luck for what they have been up to.
They have brought shame to their Families.
Couldn’t do a thing with him I’ll tell you that confidently 😂😂
You gonna do a bit of work on them are ya Marie Fury👊🏼👊🏼
How can you post photos of his girlfriend & a child!! Absolutely vile
Sharing photos of his girlfriend and daughter and for naming his girlfriend and even her hair business is disgusting!!
Whatever he has done it does not give this site the right to show photos of his girlfriend and daughter. The people responsible for this is scum in my mind. To put a picture of an innocent young child on this site is now that’s vile!!!
Well Dale Rickerby was a child himself once. So was Ian Huntley since you’re all so obsessed with child sexual abuse. Let’s be honest – both kids will turn out exactly like their parents, breed themselves, and the cycle of low grade humanity will continue into perpetuity.
I suggest you remove these before a court order comes your way for harassment.
Legal proceedings already in process they’re just waiting on address for correspondence
Hahahahahaha
Fancy sharing pictures of a minor and peoples addresses.. if only you people where as enthusiastic about the peadophiles and rapists that walk our streets maybe the world would be a better place, absolutely shocking how you can get away with writing the stuff you are, am sure the people behind this site would be the 1st to say ‘be kind’ of someone made an attempt on there life over the vile things you are saying and sharing!
We really wouldn’t. Look up the meaning of my username. I don’t care what happens to animal abusers or those that defend them. Why would I?
I smell a harassment and Defamation of character court case. It’s perfectly legal to talk about a convicted criminal, but to harass a young woman and children is illegal, not to mention slanderous comments. Wont be making no posts when the compensation has skinted yous 😭😂
We dont need to be too sentimental here.
To cheer everyone up and get over it here is a poem by John Clare about badger baiting:
The Badger
WHEN midnight comes a host of dogs and men
Go out and track the badger to his den,
And put a sack within the hole and lie
Till the old grunting badger passes by.
He comes and hears – they let the strongest loose.
The old fox hears the noise and drops the goose.
The poacher shoots and hurries from the cry,
And the old hare half wounded buzzes by.
They get a forkéd stick to bear him down
And clap the dogs and take him to the town,
And bait him all the day with many dogs,
And laugh and shout and fright the scampering hogs.
He runs along and bites at all he meets:
They shout and hollo down the noisy streets.
He turns about to face the loud uproar
And drives the rebels to their very door.
The frequent stone is hurled wher’er they go;
When badgers fight, then everyone’s a foe.
The dogs are clapped and urged to join the fray;
The badger turns and drives them all away.
Though scarcely half as big, demure and small,
He fights with dogs for hours and beats them all.
The heavy mastiff, savage in the fray,
Lies down and licks his feet and turns away.
The bulldog knows his match and waxes cold
The badger grins and never leaves his hold.
He drives the crowd and follows at their heels
And bites them through – the drunkard swears and reels.
The frighted women take the boys away,
The blackguard laughs and hurries on the fray.
He tries to reach the woods, an awkward race,
But sticks and cudgels quickly stop the chase.
He turns again and drives the noisy crowd
And beats the many dogs in noises loud.
He drives away and beats them every one,
And then they loose them all and set them on.
He falls as dead and kicked by boys and men,
Then starts and grins and drives the crowd again;
Till kicked and torn and beaten out he lies
And leaves his hold and cackles, groans and dies.