CONVICTED (2022) | Callum Muir, born 25 December 1996, of 17 Logangate Terrace, Logan, Cumnock KA18 3HD – forced his three dogs to fight badgers and foxes.
Muir, a father-of-one, was seen in videos encouraging his dogs to attack the wild animals as they screamed in pain.
He laughed as a fox’s skin was torn away and ripped in half by dogs, while two of his pets attacked a fox as another man stamped on its head.
The Scottish SPCA called it one of the worst cases inspectors had ever seen.
“The complete disregard for the wellbeing of the dogs and wild animals in the videos is appalling,” said one of the charity’s inspectors after Muir was sentenced at Ayr Sheriff Court.
Muir also failed to seek veterinary treatment for any of the injuries his three dogs – terrier Pip, lurcher Bella and bull lurcher Mig – sustained as a result of the fights.
The organisation said it was disappointed Muir had not received a longer jail term given new legislation means offenders can be sentenced to up to five years for animal welfare crimes.
All three dogs were signed over to the care of the Scottish SPCA and have since found new homes.
The SSPCA’s special investigations unit (SIU) seized three dogs with “significant” injuries at Muir’s home in Logangate Terrace in May 2021 after a tip-off he may have been using them in animal fights.
They also found evidence he was self-treating the dogs’ injuries to avoid authorities being alerted.
Pip and Bella, the two older dogs, had injuries across their faces, necks and legs.
“Both dogs had several missing teeth as a result of the fights they’d been in, and the lack of appropriate veterinary treatment would have made the suffering even worse,” the inspector, who has to remain anonymous, said.
“Mig had some scarring to her muzzle and legs but as she was a much larger, stronger and younger dog it’s likely she’d have been able to avoid serious injury up to this point.”
Investigators also found several items associated with animal fighting including locator collars, which are used to track dogs when they are underground in badger setts.
Officers also discovered nets for catching wild animals when they bolt from their dens. Fox and badger DNA was found after the evidence was analysed.
A number of video clips and images were also recovered showing dogs, including Muir’s own pets, fighting wild animals.
“In my line of work you see a lot of stomach churning examples of animal cruelty, but the videos and images relating to this case are among the worst I’ve ever seen,” the inspector added.
“Given the sheer level of suffering endured by Muir’s dogs, countless wild animals and the depravity of the videos and images he owned, we are disappointed he has not received a longer jail sentence.”
The League Against Cruel Sports also worked closely with the SSPCA throughout the investigation.
Robbie Marsland, director of LACS Scotland, said the organisation was “pleased to have played a part in bringing Callum Muir, a horrific animal abuser to justice”.
He also commended the SSPCA for “such a comprehensive investigation which was absolutely critical in bringing about today’s result”.
CONVICTED (2022) | serial wildlife criminal Mark Joseph Bond, born 26 February 1983, of 63 Mayfair Avenue, Maidstone ME15 6BZ.
Mark Bond with wife and mother of his two young children, Gemma Bond.
Bond, who has clear links to another wildlife persecutor from Loose, Jimmy Price, was given a suspended jail sentence after being found guilty of killing a fallow deer and causing unnecessary suffering to his dog Vegas, who he used for hunting.
Mark Bond told a friend he thought Vegas’ jaw would “drop off” if he carried on hunting with her. Picture: RSPCA
Magistrates told the married father-of-two he had a “total disregard” for Vegas’s well-being after messages he sent a friend revealed she had two holes in her jaw after being sent underground to hunt.
Bond, a director of his family’s business JRB Fabrications Ltd and roofer with sister company JRB Roofing Ltd, said he hadn’t taken Vegas to the vets but was treating her himself by cleaning the wound and giving her anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.
He admitted he’d been “ratting and rabbiting” before but had denied killing the fallow deer. His lawyer, Amy Hazlewood, told the court that her client now accepted his guilt, but was “remorseful”.
Hazlewood said that “it is a hobby which got out of hand.”, adding “since that day he has never engaged in the hobby.”
But Bond was slammed by magistrates for hunting for his “own gratification”, before being told: “It is clear from the evidence who and what you are.”
Probation officer Andrew Wood said any custodial sentence would mean “heartbreak” for Mr Bond’s young family, including both his children aged under 10.
During the two-day trial magistrates were shown chilling videos of badgers and boars being attacked by dogs and stabbed.
Videos included dogs attacking a boar, a badger and a deer, with the boar letting out a high-pitch squeal as it was stabbed by an unknown person.
The court also saw a picture of Bond posing with a dead boar, which prosecutor Richard Reynolds claimed was a “trophy” image. He also claimed Bond stabbed the animal after setting three dogs on it.
But Bond denied this, saying the boar was shot on land with the permission of the owner and was different to the animal filmed being stabbed.
In October 2019, RSPCA chief inspector William Mitchell visited Bond at his then home in Mayfair Avenue, Loose.
His five dogs were in kennels at the property while a fridge was found packed with meat and five skulls, thought to belong to deer.
A hunting knife and tools used for hunting were found in his van.
Magistrates told sick Bond: “It is clear from the evidence who and what you are.”
Bond gave evidence about injuries his terrier Vegas had sustained, as well as messages he sent on WhatsApp boasting about killing a deer.
He bragged his dog Vinnie killed a deer but when questioned by Mr Reynolds said the messages were just “a joke” and “banter” as friends would mock Vinnie’s hunting skill.
One read: “I’m out lamping now, Vinnie just got a fallow,” while in another he said he’d be “eating venison” for a week.
He was cleared of other charges during his trial in April 2022 including stabbing a boar, and killing a badger and another deer.
He appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on 20 May 2022 while his wife Gemma Bond, clearly standing by him, sat in court.
Sentencing | 90-day prison term for causing unnecessary harm to a dog with 60 days for killing the fallow deer, the terms were suspended for 18 months; 250 hours of unpaid work; 10 rehabilitation sessions; £1422 in costs and charges. 10-year ban on keeping dogs. Deprivation order for Vegas and three other dogs.
CONVICTED (2022) | badger baiters Jamie Lee Davies, born 16 December 1988, of 13 North Street, Castleford WF10 2QL, Nathaniel James Holmes, born 26 December 1992, of 45 St Andrews Road, Castleford WF10 2NF, and Brandon Reece Abbott, born 2 June 1993, of 171 Watling Road, Castleford WF10 2QY
The men were spotted on Boxing Day 2019 with five dogs and spades in private woodland near Church Fenton in North Yorkshire.
A member of public was suspicious of their actions and called the landowner and police.
When the landowner arrived, he discovered three spades left in a pool of water and a black terrier dog with serious injuries, sitting close to a known active badger sett.
As the trio tried to leave the area, they were stopped by an officer from North Yorkshire Police. The officer seized the four dogs, who were taken to police kennels, while the black terrier was taken to a vet.
He was found to have injuries to his jaw and teeth which were consistent with being caused by a badger. He was also covered in dried, caked mud. The dog was treated by a local vet and has since been rehomed.
Abbott
A statement from North Yorkshire Police, said: “It has taken a long time to get this case through the courts due to covid and other delays but I’m pleased that the three men have finally faced the consequences of their cruel actions.
“Interfering with a badger sett is not only illegal but it causes immense suffering to both the badgers involved and the dogs who are sent down the setts.
“The black terrier we found at the scene had serious injuries to his jaw and teeth which the vet identified as consistent with those seen by dogs involved in badger baiting. The people who take part in this abhorrent ‘sport’ will send a dog down into a badger sett in order to ‘flush out’ the badger and use locator collars to keep track of where they are underground.
“Sometimes the badger will be allowed to run away but often they will be brought to the surface and the dogs encouraged to fight them, sometimes ending in the badger’s death and nearly always ending with both the dog and the badger suffering serious injuries.
“The dog we found had a number of older injuries which had not been treated, causing him immense pain.
“I’d like to thank the quick thinking members of the public who spotted what these men were up to and called the police and I’d also like to thank our expert witnesses who supported our investigation.”
Sentencing | All three received fines and no other penalties. Jamie Davies was fined £428, Nathaniel Holmes was fined £252. Brandon Abbott was fined £656.
Holmes, Davies and Abbott were discovered by the landowner’s daughter in a privately owned wood and in broad daylight on Boxing Day 2019. Aware that the three men had seen her, the young girl decided not to turn and run, but very bravely confronted them and asked what they were up to in her wood. Two men were digging into the large badger sett whilst the third man told the girl, “We’ve lost our dog. It’s chased a fox, We have permission.”
Abbott
The men had a cover story prepared and hoped that the girl was naive enough to accept it and walk away. However, having watched badgers all her life at this sett, the girl knew exactly what the men were up to and once out of earshot, rang her dad, the farmer.
After calling the police, the farmer drove immediately to where the three men had parked their silver Subaru Forester, registration number SL03 HWT. The men, now unsettled, left the badger sett and made their way across a muddy field with four dogs, crossing a deep dyke and back towards their car and the waiting farmer.
After angrily confronting the men, the farmer traced their footsteps back across the field where he found two spades dumped in a puddle of water. A third spade was later found during crop spraying. No locator collar from the dog was ever found, a point which the defence impressed upon the Magistrates.
Disposing of incriminating items such as spades and locator collar will often save badger diggers from facing more serious charges and can make the case harder for the prosecution.
Thankfully, due to the quick actions of the farmer and his daughter, the police were able to intercept the Subaru car containing the men and four of their dogs (none were microchipped).
The fifth dog, a badly injured Patterdale terrier, was found sat on top of the badger sett, trembling, very timid and caked in mud. He was treated by a vet who found old and infected wounds together with a fresh lower jaw injury consistent with coming head to head with a badger. None of the men claimed ownership of this dog who was treated for the horrific injuries and later rehomed.
Sadly the other four dogs may not be so lucky. They can now be returned to their owners together with the Subaru car! It is heartbreaking to learn that the kennels where the dogs have been safely housed for two years had good homes waiting for them at the conclusion of this case. One can only guess at the fate that awaits them when returned to their owners.
Due to the pandemic and other issues, this case has been continually delayed. Originally heard at York Magistrates Court, it was moved to Scarborough, thus losing much of the initial impact presented by the Prosecution in York.
The farmer, his daughter, a badger expert, the police and veterinary surgeon all presented credible evidence in York.
Abbott and Holmes gave their employment as groundworks with Wakefield Council. Jamie Davies/Milner is a self employed painter and decorator trading under the name J.Davies painting contractors and undertakes work within care homes and letting organisations, both in the public and private sectors.
In December 2020Jamie Davies was convicted alongside others of stripping copper wire from power lines putting lives at risk and leaving 45,000 homes without power. He was jailed for 18 months. The full story can be found here.
CONVICTED (2022) | badger baiter Wayne Mortimer, born 18 December 1974, of 47 Nant-Y-Fedw, Mountain Ash CF45 4LS – failed to take his two seriously injured dogs to the vet.
Mortimer’s Patterdale terriers were found with multiple scarring to their heads and necks and were said by a vet to have suffered unnecessarily for at least three days because of his failure to seek treatment for them. The most severely wounded terrier, Jack, was missing 75 percent of the skin and tissue from his lower jaw.
RSPCA inspector Simon Evans, accompanied by police officers, visited Mortimer’s home on 25 November 2021 following welfare concerns for the dogs.
They found five Patterdale terriers and a lurcher puppy living in purpose-built steel kennels in a shed in the garden, with one of the dogs visibly injured.
In his evidence to the court, Inspector Evans said: “I saw a small, black, Patterdale type terrier with a white patch on its chest. This terrier appeared to have an injury to its lower jaw and the wound looked to be yellow with pus.
“I looked inside and examined the injured dog more closely. The wound was extensive, covering the whole area beneath the dog’s chin reaching down to the throat.
“It had been completely stripped of skin and hair and was red raw and covered in sawdust shavings, making it look yellow. One of the other Patterdale terriers also had an injury to its lower lip and this too looked raw.”
Both dogs were seized by police and taken immediately for veterinary treatment by the RSPCA.
In her statement, the examining vet said Jack was missing “a significant amount of skin and subcutaneous tissue from the mandible, which resulted in no normal tissue present for approximately 75 percent of the lower jaw”.
The root of the terrier’s left canine was exposed and there were also wounds to his nasal septum and multiple small lacerations to his upper lips, cranium and eyes.
The other terrier, Race, had an unhealed wound on his left ear, a laceration on his chin and bilateral conjunctivitis.
Both dogs had healed scars on the head and neck in multiple areas and additional scrapes and wounds which were only a few days old.
When Mortimer was interviewed by Inspector Evans on 6 December he told the officer the injuries had been caused by the dogs fighting. He said he’d treated the wounds himself using disinfectant and antibiotics purchased off the internet but had been too frightened to take them to a vet as he was worried he might be suspected of using them to bait badgers.
He also told the inspector that the injury to Race had occurred about 12 months earlier following another fight with Jack, and the historic scarring to the dog’s face was as a result of bolting foxes on land controlled by a gamekeeper friend.
Chip off the old block. Wayne Mortimer with daughter Jessica Mortimer, who shares her father’s taste for animal cruelty.
A second independent veterinary expert who provided evidence in the case, said he believed the injuries were likely to have been caused by the powerful bite of a badger, which would have held the terriers in a “vice-like grip.”
He said: “The chin injuries sustained by the dogs are not consistent with having been caused by fighting with each other when taking into account the severity of the facial tissue damage and tissue loss.
“It is highly likely that these injuries were caused as a consequence of them fighting with a badger.”
Both vets agreed that Jack and Race had been suffering due to Mortimer’s failure to seek veterinary care.
Mortimer pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences when he appeared following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
Jack and Race are doing well in RSPCA care and the charity is looking for new homes for them. The other dogs seen at Mortimer’s property have since been rehomed.
Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. 40 hours of unpaid work; a total of £528 in costs and charges. Banned from keeping dogs for ten years but may appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2022) | barbaric wildlife persecutors Grant Leigh Senior, born 4 February 1970, and son Grant Leigh Junior, born 24 March 1991, both of 38 Marler Road, Hyde SK14 4BD, and Paris Jade Carding, born 15 August 1993 of 12 Fawley Grove, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 9WG – carried out multiple acts of animal cruelty.
Paris Carding, Grant Leigh Jr and Grant Leigh Sr were all convicted of animal cruelty offences.
The trio were arrested after a police rural crime officer was contacted anonymously, in October 2020, about posts and photos that had been posted in a private Facebook group, run by Grant Leigh Senior.
The RSPCA along with Cheshire Police, launched an investigation and secured warrants for two addresses in Greater Manchester.
As a result six dogs were removed and taken into RSPCA care and a number of mobile phones were also seized and forensically examined. These revealed numerous videos and photos of dogs engaged in hunting and fighting with wild animals such as badgers and foxes. Very young children featured in much of the footage.
Still from video clip showing fox being mauled by dogs.
Carding appeared in 32 separate video clips, all of which showed her “vicious and nasty” treatment of animals
In one video, Carding is heard saying: ”There it is, it’s a pig [badger] isn’t it? Bash, bash it, ooh, it’s biting’.”
In another clip, Carding encouraged a toddler to get a lurcher dog to attack a badger sett saying: ”Her face is going to be smashed. Good boy, get him out. Look at them fighting.”
She further baited three dogs into ”pulling a fox to pieces.”
Inquiries revealed she had been joined on the barbaric family expedition by her boyfriend, Grant Leigh Junior, and his ex-huntsman father, Grant Leigh Snr.
In one clip, Leigh Jnr is seen showing the toddler how to hit a badger with a spade.
One picture showed Grant Jr holding a dead fox with a child accompanied by the caption: ”Family day out, learn these kids young. Hunting mad!”
Grant Leigh Senior was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier, alongside failing to properly look after six other dogs.
Carding, who worked at a primary school in Manchester for six years until 2021, was found guilty of five cruelty charges under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
Carding and Leigh Sr are pictured outside court.
RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, a case officer for the charity’s Special Operation Unit, told the court: “Upon interrogating the phones, it was discovered that recordings had been made of extensive and graphic badger and fox persecution.
“It also became apparent that Leigh Jnr’s partner, Paris Carding, was present during these recordings. She was responsible for taking the footage, was heard encouraging both Leigh Jnr and the dogs during the attacks and was completely complicit.”
At one property, Leigh Snr was arrested by police and officers found a kennel block in the back garden containing six dogs, three of which were recognisable from the videos.
Two black Patterdale terriers had scarring on their faces and one was underweight; three bull lurcher types – one called Mission – also had facial injuries; and a white and black terrier – called Clover – had fresh wounds and a swollen face and muzzle.
Clover and Mission could be seen on the videos from the phones being used to hunt and fight wildlife just two days before they were seized.
An independent vet who attended the scene said in his report that the kennels were ‘unhygienic’ and described many of the dogs as having ‘mature scars’.
Two of the dogs – Buster and Shay – were rehomed. Clover and Mission were said to belong to Leigh Jnr while the other two dogs – Rocky and Bronco – had been brought from the internet.
A third warrant was executed on December 23, 2020, at Carding’s address and a terrier, called Foxy, who had been seen in videos on the mobile phones, was seized and taken into RSPCA care. Carding said Foxy did not belong to her so he was rehomed.
The vet report added: “All seven dogs had evidence of skin scarring and with the exception of one all dogs had injuries to, or had missing teeth.
“These findings are commonly encountered when a dog has been fighting with another animal of similar size and stature.”
He said two of the dogs had evidence of de-gloving injuries to the chin/jaw, concluding: “In my experience a de-gloving injury of the chin is commonly encountered when a dog fights with a badger.”
PC Jim Clark from Cheshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Team said: “This investigation uncovered a horrific catalogue of abuses and neglect of animals and cruelty to wildlife.
“This result reinforces our determination to work with our colleagues at the RSPCA to deter this type of behaviour as part of our commitment to protecting our rural communities.”
Grant Leigh Junior was sentenced to the maximum he could impose of a total of 26 weeks in prison, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and was disqualified from keeping all animals for life (he can’t make any application to remove this for 25 years). Grant Leigh junior is already in prison for another matter and this sentence will be on top of that and will be consecutive.
Paris Carding was sentenced to a total of 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. She was given a curfew for 16 weeks, ordered to pay costs of £1,000, a victim surcharge of £128, and disqualified from keeping all animals for 25 years (she can’t make any application to remove this for 15 years). The judge said how a mother of young child has been present at this ‘horror show is beggars belief’. The long term impact on the children is immeasurable. He said she was the one person who could have asserted some influence and prevented children from seeing what happened and said to her ‘shame on you’. He said the extent of your culpability was obvious and to video what happened was a trophy perverse in the extreme.
Grant Leigh Senior was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, ordered to pay costs of £1,000,a victim surcharge of £128 and disqualified from keeping all animals for life (he can’t make any application to remove this for 25 years).
CONVICTED (2022) | Ryan Hancock, born 1 July 2003, of 2 Prestwich Street, Burnley BB11 4NZ, Marcus Leverett (aka Marcus Tomlinson), born 1 January 2003, of 49 Harold Avenue, Burnley BB11 5LJ and Zak Oldfield, born 9 March 2005 of 3 Greenock Street, Burnley BB11 4DT – used dogs to fight and kill cats, badgers, deer, rabbits and birds before posting footage of the attacks on TikTok.
Much loved family pet Gatsby was attacked by dogs belonging to Ryan Hancock (left) and the unnamed youth after being goaded by the pair. Gatsby was rushed to a vet but died on the way. Marcus Leverett (right) also set his dog on an unnamed grey and white cat.
Hancock and his accomplices Leverett and Oldfield targeted animals on the Stoops Estate in Burnley and wildlife in the surrounding area.
Magistrates heard how the trio had been involved in incidents involving domestic cats, badgers and rabbits.
On 17 March 2021 Hancock and Oldfield were seen encouraging a dog to attack a family cat named Gatsby.
A member of the public filmed the attack from a bedroom window as it took place on a field at the back of Melrose Avenue, Burnley. The lurcher dog was seen to jump out of a back yard and then chase the cat. Hancock and the youth could then be seen encouraging the attack as one of them filmed it on his mobile phone.
Ryan Hancock pictured outside court
Gatsby’s owner screamed at them from her bedroom window and her husband went into the field. An older man, who was the grandfather of one of the teenagers, had approached them and he handed the cat over to the owner’s husband. Tragically, Gatsby died on the way to the vet.
The witness passed the “horrendous” footage to Lancashire Police, who then executed warrants in April 2021 under the Animal Welfare Act at four properties in Burnley.
Mobile phones seized from the defendants revealed 182 videos that showed graphic cruelty to animals, some of which had been set to music and edited for use on video sharing social site, TikTok.
The magistrates were shown gruesome footage of two lurchers dragging a badger from a wooden crate and attacking it.
During the eight minute video a man could be seen kicking the badger repeatedly as one dog had hold of it by the neck and another by a hind leg.
The tormented animal, which could be heard squealing, eventually made it to woodland at the edge of the field where it was finished off by the dogs.
One of the charges related to one of the dogs, Cassie, who received injuries to her face during the brutal incident which had not been treated by a vet.
The attack on Gatsby which was witnessed by his horrified owner.
Hancock pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, a black and white cat called Gatsby, by encouraging a dog to attack the cat; causing unnecessary suffering to the same cat by failing to suppress the attack; causing unnecessary suffering to a rabbit by causing it to be attacked by a dog; causing unnecessary suffering to two rabbits by causing them to be attacked by a dog; attempting to kill a badger; causing unnecessary suffering to a tan lurcher called Cassie by failing to provide veterinary treatment for injuries; attempting to kill a badger; possessing a live badger; wilfully killing a badger; and causing an animal fight to take place between two dogs and a badger. He was jailed for 12 weeks.
Marcus Leverett. Picture: Facebook
Leverett pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an unnamed grey tabby cat by encouraging a dog to attack it which led to the cat’s death and causing unnecessary suffering to a lurcher dog called Storm by failing to provide veterinary treatment for its injuries. He received a suspended 12-week sentence.
Zak Oldfield. Picture: Facebook.
Oldfield pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Gatsby, possessing a live badger, willfully killing a badger and causing an animal fight to take place. He was given a youth referral order.
Marcus Leverett aka Marcus Tomlinson. Picture: Facebook
After the sentencing, RSPCA officer Jason Bowles, who led the investigation, said: “This group of lads was targeting animals on the council estate they lived on as well as wildlife in the surrounding area.
“We found awful footage on their mobile phones that showed extreme cruelty to animals. Many of the photos and videos had been set to music and edited for sharing online.
“Not only did the animals they attacked and killed suffer, but their own dogs also suffered from injuries in the confrontations and fights.”
Zak Oldfield. Picture: Facebook
Jason added: “If anyone notices dogs, such as terriers and lurchers, suffering recurring injuries like cuts and wounds around the face, then we’d ask them to contact the police or RSPCA to report their concerns.”
Oldfield pictured with sister Abbie Oldfield and father (?) Olly Oldfield. Picture: FacebookAbbie Oldfield reveals herself to be as lacking of decency and compassion as her evil brother.
PC Matt Hartup, part of the Lancashire Police Rural Task Force in the East of the county, said: “This operation – known as Op Ratchet – shows how closely we work in partnership with other agencies to tackle all sorts of crime, and bring offenders to justice.
“The glamorisation of this type of violence is barbaric and serves no purpose in the countryside; it promotes horrendous suffering and abuse of animals – including the lack of concern for the welfare of the dogs used for these crimes.
Sentencing
Hancock admitted 11 offences and was jailed for 18 weeks.
Leverett and the other youth also admitted to animal welfare offences.
Leverett was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, by the magistrates, while Oldfield received a 12-month referral order at Blackburn Youth Court.
All three were banned from keeping animals for 10 years, while Hancock and Leverett were ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.
On 8 February 2022 Ryan Hancock was given a two-year community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehab days after pleading guilty to common assault and assault on a young father.
Oldfield lives with his grandparents, Gordon and Alison Renton, as his mother is allegedly an alcoholic. They previously lived at 2 Melrose Avenue, Burnley BB11 4DX.
Leverett also lives with grandparents, Angela and Sam Leverett.
CONVICTED (2022) | so-called ‘terrier-man’ Dewi James Price, born 6 December 1981, of Commercial Street, New Tredegar, Caerphilly (now said to be no fixed abode) – killed a badger and kept a fox cub and red kite at his home.
Price, whose various Facebook profiles contain multiple disturbing images and videos showing wildlife being torn apart by dogs, had denied seven wildlife offences, including one occasion when he killed a badger in the Builth Wells area in Powys.
The other six offences related to May 2019 when in the Gelligaer area of Caerphilly county borough, Price twice disturbed a nesting red kite. On another occasion, he intentionally took a red kite and had the bird in his possession.
Price was found guilty of killing a badger in the Builth Wells area of Powys on February 18, 2018.
He was also found guilty of intentionally or recklessly disturbing a red kite while it was in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young and of intentionally or recklessly disturbing the dependent young of a red kite.
The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit began investigating Price after pictures and videos on social media labelled “in Builth Wells” appeared to show a dead badger at the bottom of a digged area.
In June 2019, the RSPCA and police raided a property in Gelligaer where they found and seized the fox cub
The RSPCA said the cub had been kept in Price’s bedroom, and they had found food, water and faeces. Hunting DVDs were found including one called ‘Badger Diggers Dogs’.
A female black patterdale terrier type called Gypsy and a young female black patterdale with a white chest called Faith were found and seized.
Price’s mobile phone history showed searches for how to “train a red kite to hunt for you” and enquiries on finding kites.
Video footage from Price’s mobile phone from May 2019 showed him up a tree at a red kite’s nest where there were three live chicks and a parent red kite nearby. Another video on May 18, 2019 showed Price attempting to feed two chicks in the nest.
Another showed Price giving the chicks food and picking the young birds up. There were three chicks seen in the nest.
On May 19 Price sent a video including footage seemingly of a man-made nest in a cupboard, and another video showed the chick being fed by Price in the man-made nest. Further footage showed the chick being stroked while a radio played loudly..
During the police search at the Gelligaer property, no red kite chicks were found and the fate of the chick is unknown.
Chief inspector Ian Briggs said: “We’d like to remind people that wild animals such as birds and badgers are protected by law and, working with partner organisations, we’re here to ensure that they are safe in their natural habitats.
“We would particularly like to thank the Gwent Police Rural Crime Team for their support and assistance with this case.”
Rosamund Rutter, for Price, said her client had a history of mental health difficulties including schizophrenia, and also issues around the misuse of alcohol and amphetamine. She said her client now realises he needs support and assistance in relation to his mental health and also now understands the importance of taking his medication.
Sentencing: six months in prison – comprising five months for the badger offence and one month for the red kite offences to run consecutively – suspended for 12 months. He must also complete a rehabilitation course. He was ordered to pay a £125 contribution to the £9,946 costs of bringing the prosecution as well as a £25 fine or a breach of suspended sentence order and victim surcharge of £128. The court ordered Faith and Gypsy be taken off Price, and the defendant was banned from keeping dogs for two years (expires February 2024). The judge said the period of the ban would likely have been “much longer” had the case come to court sooner.
CONVICTED (2021) | badger baiter Anthony Campbell of Bank Street, Newton-le-Willows WA12 9NS – failed to treat the facial injuries of a dog he forced into vicious animal fights.
Bloodthirsty thug Anthony Campbell made terrier Millie ‘fight badgers’ and left her in agony with untreated facial injuries.
Campbell was banned from keeping pets after his dog – a Patterdale terrier named Millie – was found with severe facial injuries and scarring. He had not taken her to the vet for treatment or pain relief.
RSPCA officers joined Merseyside Police who executed a warrant, under the Protection of Badgers Act, at Campbell’s address in Newton-le-Willows on November 13, 2020.
RSPCA inspectors Anthony Joynes and Andrew Harris discovered four dogs on the property, including Millie.
Inspector Joynes told the court: “Millie was quite apprehensive in demeanour but yet pleasant and exhibited no aggressiveness.
“She had severe scars on her face, chin, lower jaw, neck, and front legs, which I noted.
“I could see and feel the remaining traces of scabs on and around the scarred area, indicating that wounds had been there until recently.”
Millie
Campbell claimed Millie was attacked by another dog while they were out ratting. He stated she’d been given antibiotics, but couldn’t say who had attended to her wounds.
Millie’s injuries were inspected by a member of the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, which is responsible for investigating serious and organized animal crime, such as badger baiting and wildlife crimes.
In his statement, the Special Ops investigator said: “The dog was exhibiting injuries to its lower jaw and forelegs.
“These injuries suggested to me that the dog had just been in close combat with a badger. The lower jaw damage was typical of those done by badgers, in my opinion.”
Millie also experienced “degloving injuries,” which are injuries in which a significant chunk of skin and the layer of soft tissue beneath it partially or totally rips from the body.
Campbell was sentenced at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on December 16 and had previously pleaded guilty to cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal on November 13, 2020.
Millie remained in RSPCA care while the investigation was ongoing but will now look for a loving new home.
Sentencing: community order including an eight-week curfew; £750 in costs and a victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life.
CONVICTED (2021) | hare coursers John Jeff Greedy, born 4 August 2002, of Clos Dyfnaint, St Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0DY and Dougie Whitbread, born 19 October 2000 of Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke SA71 4QL
Dougie Whitbread (left) and John Jeff Greedy were caught hare coursing.
Travellers Greedy and Whitbread were found guilty of hare coursing in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, after they were spotted by a local game keeper.
The pair were each fined £541.50 after being found guilty of hunting a wild mammal with a dog.
They were also ordered to have their thermal imaging camera and binoculars forfeited under section 9 of the Hunting Act 2004.
The court heard how police were called to an estate in Dumbleton near Tewkesbury on the morning of Wednesday 26 November, 2020, after concerns were raised about the behaviour of the men.
A local game keeper had spotted the men and two dogs walking across a private field taking part in what looked like hunting.
Police arrived to find a vehicle potentially belonging to the men parked down a country lane. The pair were then watched by officers who saw Greedy looking through binoculars before releasing his dog to chase a hare.
Whitbread meanwhile was using a thermal imaging camera to look for more hares.
Police stopped them before they killed any hares and approached them as they returned to their vehicle where they seized items of hunting paraphernalia.
PC Phil Mawdsley, from the Rural Crime and Tewkesbury Neighbourhood Policing teams said: “Hare coursing is a UK Wildlife Crime priority and this is one of the many successful prosecutions that we’ve had in Gloucestershire.
“Hare coursing is not welcome in our county and bringing offenders to justice is a priority for the Rural Crime Team.
“The team has recently been accepted to join a nationally led operation, called Operation Galileo, which aims to target illegal hare coursing and I hope that this case shows how seriously we treat the crime.
“This is the strongest that our rural community has been and I believe this is down to joint work to combat this crime and push criminality out of our county.”
John Greedy, now of Broad Street Common, Peterstone Wentlooge, Cardiff, was convicted of a further animal cruelty charge in relation to a terrier found with fresh and historic facial injuries.
John Greedy’s unnamed terrier had facial injuries consistent with animal fighting
On 26 March 2022 officers from the Hungerford and Downlands neighbourhood team attended an address in North Heath, Chieveley, Berkshire following a report of badger baiting.
While at the scene, a member of the public handed over a small terrier dog, which they had found nearby and had fresh and historic facial injuries.
An officer took the dog to the nearest vet for treatment.
Greedy attended and confirmed he was the owner of the dog so he was arrested.
Greedy was charged by postal requisition on 13 June, 2022.
Investigating officer PC Sean Morris, of the Hungerford and Downlands neighbourhood team, said: “A thorough investigation has led to John Greedy’s conviction as well as a fine and costs totalling more than £1,000 and the safe rehoming of a beautiful terrier looking for a fresh start.
“The Hungerford and Downlands policing team is determined to prevent, deter and tackle rural crime throughout West Berkshire.”
Sentencing: ordered to pay a fine and costs. Deprivation order on the unnamed terrier.
CONVICTED (2021) | Danny King Sr, born c. 1979, and son Danny King Jr, born 29 May 1999, both of 44 Nursery Road, Ditton, Maidstone ME20 6DZ – bragged about killing badgers and kept multiple dogs in atrocious conditions.
The Kings, who are gypsy travellers, were due to stand trial earlier in November 2021 but failed to attend. The trial went ahead in their absence and they were both found guilty of a number of offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
Both were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a black poodle and failing in a duty of responsibility for the welfare of eight dogs between 2019 and 2020.
King Jr was also charged with killing a badger in 2018.
RSPCA officers joined police to execute a warrant in March 2019, where a mobile phone was seized as part of the investigation and revealed a “hunting” WhatsApp group between a number of people.
One of the people involved in the conversation was named as Danny King who also sent a video of two dogs attacking a badger and an audio message saying: “That’s what you call the all rounder… had a good bit of sport last night”.
Another audio message referred to a dog “running and killing” a badger and a number of hare, while another audio recording referred to the injuries to the dog and badger.
RSPCA officers found the dogs in poor conditions in Ditton, near Aylesford
On 29 January 2020, officers from the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit joined Kent Police as they executed a warrant at a property in Ditton under the Protection of Badgers Act.
Eight dogs, including greyhounds and dachshunds, were found at the property and seized by police; one was extremely underweight, had matted fur, fur loss and poor teeth.
RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles, who assisted with the investigation, said: “The dogs were being kept in unacceptable conditions, living in cold, filthy kennels. None of the dogs had suitable, dry or comfy bedding to rest on and only one kennel had food or water.
“A number of dogs including lurchers, spaniels and a poodle type were seized by police and placed into our care.”
A phone number listed on a van parked on the drive matched up with the number assigned to ‘Dannyking’ from the WhatsApp chat.
Danny King Jr
Danny King Sr was given a three-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £750 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge.
Danny King Jr received a four-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours of unpaid work.
Danny King Sr
Both men were disqualified from keeping animals, King Sr for 20 years and King Jr for 10 years.
The dogs have all been rehomed.
A third unnamed person – believed to be family matriarch Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Harbour – was given a suspended prison sentence in March 2021 having previously admitted two offences under the Animal Welfare Act at Medway Magistrates’ Court. She was handed a two-month jail term – suspended for 12 months – and ordered to complete an animal welfare rehabilitation programme. She was disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.
