CONVICTED (2021) | Callum Pullen, born 5 May 1999, of 11 Gainford Grove, Hull HU9 4ND – admitted killing a badger with his dog.

Pullen, a crack cocaine dealer, was found with sickening footage of a barbaric attack by two dogs on a squealing badger – and it was all filmed for his entertainment.

One of the aggressive dogs, called Pig, was being encouraged and congratulated as a “good lad” by a laughing man during the vicious fight.

Pullen admitted wilfully killing a badger and causing a fight to take place. He also admitted possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply and supplying the drug on September 7, 2020, as well as affray and possessing a knife on July 27, 2020.

Stephen Robinson, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court that police watched as drug deals took place in a play park in Bean Street, Hull.

Pullen was paid cash by a drug user and he handed it over to another man.

He was detained and seven packages of crack cocaine, valued at £140 with 55 per cent purity, were found on him.

Mobile phones were seized and footage of a badger being attacked by two dogs was discovered.

A man’s voice was heard encouraging a dog called Pig to attack and shake the badger, which was left badly injured and later died.

The dog was congratulated and called a “good lad” and there was the sound of the badger squealing. Laughter could be heard.

“At times, both dogs have hold of the badger, one at each end,” said Mr Robinson. “There was clearly at least one other male present. Obvious enjoyment was being derived by the defendant for this activity. The film was kept for further perusal by him.”

In a separate incident, Pullen approached the new boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend in Annandale Road, Hull, and called her a “f***ing tramp”.

The man tried to ignore him but Pullen pulled a knife of 10 to 12 inches long from his waistband. The man jumped back when Pullen made a stabbing motion towards him.

“The knife missed his stomach by around six inches,” said Mr Robinson.

“He believes he may have been stabbed if he had not jumped back.” The man later said: “I was totally shocked. I am sure that I would have been seriously injured if I had not got out of the way by jumping back.”

Pullen had no previous convictions but had a caution for criminal damage in 2018.

Judge Sophie McKone said of the badger offences: “The police discovered you involved in the most barbaric practice of using dogs to taunt and kill a badger.

“You did this sickening behaviour for entertainment because you were bored. It’s hard to imagine what causes a person to think in any way that this could be viewed as entertainment.

“You caused the death of another animal or brought about the death of another animal.”

Nigel Clive, mitigating, said the badger footage was “terrible” and a “shocking series of events” but Pullen claimed that he sold the dogs in November and did not have access to them.

“He has no intention of having any pets whatsoever, certainly no dogs,” said Mr Clive.

Sentencing: jailed for two years and 10 months. Banned from keeping animals indefinitely. Deprivation order on Pig although his whereabouts aren’t clear.

Hull Daily Mail

Additional Information

Pullen is rumoured to be a leading member of a prolific gang of blood-thirsty hunters intent on setting their dogs on anything that moves. These men, based in the vicinity of Falkland Road, Greatfield Estate, are responsible for the horrific deaths of countless cats and the disappearance of dozens more. Badgers, foxes and hares are their ultimate prey but any animal is fair game in the sick minds of these freaks.

The men’s names are well-known locally and their details have been shared across Facebook by concerned animal lovers. They openly brag about their sick antics on social media and even post photographs of their latest kills. Yet none of them have so far been brought to justice.

A campaign has now been launched by a Facebook group called Justice for East Hull Furbabies to make people aware of the gang’s activities:

There’s also a petition urging the police to investigate and take action against the men: http://chng.it/sncDQH7XpD

Campaign organiser Jack Brooks told the Hull Daily Mail: These are not just cats these are people’s much-loved pets. In some cases, members of the family.”

“Most of the time an owner won’t be aware anything is wrong and just presume they are lost or missing.”

“Any cat these dogs are released on stands very little chance of escaping and the suffering any poor animal has to endure been chased down and torn apart by dogs is horrific and cruel.”

“This has been overlooked, ignored and allowed to continue for too long now and needs to be investigated and stopped our cats need protecting.”

Hull Daily Mail – 31 October 2020
Hull Daily Mail – 9 January 2020