CONVICTED (2018) | badger baiting ring members David William Lloyd Thomas, born 21/03/1966, of Cwm Bowydd Farm, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3EL, Marc Wynn Morris, born 19/05/1991, of Jones Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3YF, Jordan Alexander Houlston, born 04/08/1993, of Alexandra Road, Llandudno LL30 2DQ* and an unnamed 17-year-old
The four men were convicted following an RSPCA probe into badger baiting and animal fighting at Cwm Bowydd Farm, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, North Wales LL41 3EL.
The undercover investigation into the activities of Houlston and co, which was led by Ian Briggs of the RSPCA’s special operations unit, featured in a May 2018 documentary produced by BBC Wales entitled ‘The Secret World of Badger Baiting’.
The programme also uncovered a scene of horror at Cwm Bowydd farm, which is co-owned by David Thomas, sole master of the Dwyrd hunt .
Animal cruelty on a massive scale was taking place at the farm with dozens of neglected dogs found locked away in brick enclosures with no natural light.
Two foxes were found in a cage which had been placed close to a barn in which fox hounds were being kept.
A search of Jordan Houlston’s flat found several dogs in external and others living in tiny enclosures inside including in the property’s bathroom.
Investigators discovered animal medication at the flat and a number of books on hunting with dogs and badger baiting.
A total of 31 dogs were taken from Houlston’s flat and the farm to be examined by a vet.
One rescued Patterdale terrier had fresh injuries to her nose, damage to her jaw and a peeling wound on her chin.
The court heard how artificial badger setts were found at the farm along with seven skulls, possibly those of foxes or badgers.
Pipes were used to hold captive animals and dogs were brought to a copse and forced to fight with them.
Video footage showed badger baiting, which has been illegal since 1835.
A badger had been brought to the area in advance and arrangements made for dogs to chase and injure the animal.
The presiding judge Gwyn Jones said: “Fortunately, we didn’t see how the badger was ultimately killed, but it’s quite clear the death would have been slow and no doubt extremely painful.
“That activity would also have had an adverse impact on the dogs.
“This was a deliberate and planned venture to cause suffering to an animal,”
“Mr Thomas and Mr Houlston played a leading role.”
Thomas was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a badger by causing it to fight with dogs.
He was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to two foxes by keeping them caged close to dogs, causing the foxes to be terrified, and other animal welfare allegations.
Jordan Houlston was convicted of ill-treating a badger, and unnecessary suffering by causing a badger to fight with dogs at Cwm Bowydd Farm in February 2017.
He was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to four dogs and failing to meet the welfare needs of seven dogs.
Morris pleaded guilty to wilfully injuring a badger, being present at an animal fight and causing unnecessary suffering to a badger by causing it to fight with a dog.
Sentencing:
David Thomas – imprisoned for 22 weeks, and placed under close supervision for a 12-month period; costs of £5,000. Disqualified from keeping dogs for eight years.
Houlston – imprisoned for 20 weeks, and also placed under close supervision for a 12-month period; total of £750 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping dogs for eight years.
Morris – 10-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; 150 hours of unpaid work; total of £650 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping dogs for four years.
The unnamed 17-year-old who had pleaded guilty to being present at an animal fight was ordered to pay a total of £220 in costs and banned from keeping dogs for four years.
News and Updates
March 2022
Jordan Houlston is now reportedly living in Ffordd Gobaith, Mochdre, Colwyn Bay LL28 5BY.
March 2022
Jordan Houlston was back in court after being caught in possession of a lurcher in breach of his disqualification order. Houlston claimed the dog, named Scruffy, belonged to his farmer.
He told the court he had been visiting a farmer to help him catch a squirrel with a trap. His partner, who apparently has irritable bowel syndrome, went to the farmer’s toilet while Houston got the dog out of the boot.
But police turned up and found him alone with the dog – breaching his ban.
Houlston admitted breaching his disqualification under the Animal Welfare Act.
He was given a 12-month community order with a condition to do 140 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 surcharge.
October 2022
David Thomas and his son Carwyn Lloyd Fazakerley appeared at Llandudno Magistrates Court where they pleaded guilty to multiple animal welfare charges .
It followed an investigation by the League Against Cruel Sports, at Cwm Bowydd Farm in Blaenau Ffestiniog. The charity found dogs were being kept there in awful conditions.
Footage obtained by the charity shows a foxhound being kicked and stamped on, another being chained up for days, some dead foxhounds being incinerated at the farm and a terrier being chained and kept in appalling conditions without water.
The investigation by the League Against Cruel Sports led to a raid by North Wales Police (NWP) and the RSPCA in November 2021 and the seizure of 34 dogs, including the entire foxhound pack.
The case was adjourned for sentencing on November 7 at 2pm.
Chris Luffingham, director of external affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “These dogs were treated disgustingly by people who should not have been allowed near them in the first place, and shows the blatant disregard those in the hunting community have for animals, whether wildlife or hound.
“Those who abuse animals for ‘sport’ will disgust the public and deserve to face the full weight of the law and go to jail.”
Thomas pleaded guilty to six charges under the Animal Welfare Act. Fazakerley pleaded guilty to a charge that 29 dogs were not kept in a suitable environment.
The RSPCA safely housed all the animals that were seized in the raid.
November 2022: Update for Sentencing
On Monday 7 November 2022, Snowdonia farmer David William Lloyd Thomas was jailed for 24 weeks after flouting his eight-year ban on keeping dogs.
Thomas, who had 2,000 acres and 2,000 sheep, admitted breaching a previous ban and failing to properly care for 29 dogs and two ferrets.
He was also handed a fresh ten-year ban from keeping dogs or ferrets.
District judge Gwyn Jones told the hearing Thomas had three times breached a disqualification made in 2018 after a badger-baiting case.
Jones told the defendant: “I am quite satisfied it’s a wilful, deliberate and persistent breach of the order. No doubt you would have hoped with the passage of time people will no longer be concerned with regard to the way in which you deal with animals.”#
Carwyn Lloyd Fazakerley also admitted failing to provide a suitable environment for 29 dogs last November. Fazakerley, who was described by a probation officer as “loyal to his father”, was ordered to do 160 hours unpaid work and pay £600 costs.
He was also banned from owning dogs for ten years.
Deprivation orders were made for the two ferrets and 28 surviving dogs.
Speaking about the case Chris Luffingham, director of external affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “These animals were kept in filthy, disgusting conditions and treated appallingly by Thomas and Fazakerley.
“When we reviewed our investigators’ footage we were shocked and appalled by what we saw – and incredibly concerned for the welfare of other animals we suspected were on the property.
“Unfortunately our fears were realised when the warrant was executed, and we are grateful to North Wales Police and the RSPCA for their work to safeguard these animals.
“We welcome today’s custodial sentence but are incredibly disappointed that as someone who has previously been jailed for animal cruelty that today’s sentence wasn’t far stronger, especially given the new sentencing powers available to the courts.”
North Wales Post
League Against Cruel Sports
Update 12 November 2022
Just a few days into his custodial sentence David William Lloyd Thomas was RELEASED from prison following a ruling by an incompetent judge.
Thomas appealed to Mold Crown Court and had his sentence reduced to 13 weeks suspended for a year. He must do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £756 costs. The additional 10-year ban on keeping dogs was lifted.
Appeal Judge Nicola Saffman said the new sentence was “just and proportionate.”
She ordered Thomas’s release from jail because of the impact on his brother running the farm and two children relying on Thomas’s emotional and financial support.
The League Against Cruel Sports, whose video evidence was crucial in securing Thomas’s conviction, reported the devastating news in an email to its followers. They wrote: “Thanks to our work all the animals on his farm are now safe, but this sentence is nowhere near enough to deter those who would do harm to animals. As a repeat offender Thomas should have been banned for LIFE from keeping animals.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that someone previously jailed for animal cruelty that the sentence wasn’t far stronger, especially given the new sentencing powers available to the courts.
“We were instrumental in the new Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act for maximum custodial sentences increasing from six months to five years. Now is the time to push for these sentences to be applied in extreme cases of animal abuse like this”.