CONVICTED (2023) | wildlife persecutor Brandon Lawlor, born 29 December 1999, of Lowerhouse Lane, Rose Grove, Burnley BB12 6HZ – goaded two dogs into fighting with a badger.
Irish traveller Lawlor, a former jockey and employee of Sue Smith Racing, was prosecuted alongside accomplice Carl Harwood (sentenced in February 2021) after footage on his mobile phone showed him illegally fighting two dogs with a badger in Lancashire.
One of the dogs had 22 individual scarred puncture wounds on the side of his head from the incident.
The “absolutely horrific” film, which was recorded in Burnley in June 2021, was described by an RSPCA inspector as “very difficult to watch and to listen to”.
Lawlor pleaded guilty to one offence contrary to the Protection of Badgers Act 1991 when he appeared at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on September 21, 2023, in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
There had been a warrant out for his arrest.
Magistrates were told police found the disturbing footage on his mobile phone on August 13, 2021, after he was being investigated for non-related offences.
Two dogs, including a 14-month-old bull lurcher called Toby, were seen attacking the badger on the head, throat and back, with a male voice encouraging them on.
RSPCA inspector Lyndsey Taylor, along with the charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) and Lancashire Police’s Ribble Valley rural task force, visited the defendant’s house on October 19, 2021.
The court heard how they went into the living room and saw Toby being held on a lead.
The dog, who was wearing the same type of collar as that seen in the mobile phone footage, had a significant scar which ran lengthwise along almost the entire length of the top of his head.
On the left-hand side of the lower jaw and surrounding area there were 22 individual scarred puncture wounds, and on the right-hand side there were nine.
More recent scarring and scabbing was seen underneath the dog’s left hind paw and lower leg.
Carl Harwood, who was at the property with Lawlor, told the officers the injuries had been sustained while out lamping and ratting.
Inspector Taylor was concerned about Toby’s welfare and he was seized by police and taken by the RSPCA to be seen by a vet.
In her evidence to the court, inspector Taylor described the mobile phone footage.
She said: “It was filmed in the dark but two dogs can be seen attacking a badger as initially, when the recording begins, a bright light can be seen being shone on the animals.
“The footage is very difficult to watch and to listen to, it is absolutely horrific.
“All the way through the footage the badger can be heard screaming in pain and it is extremely distressed, with the dogs heard panting also.
“At around eight seconds, when Toby has lost interest and has left the badger, a male voice can be heard to say something like ‘here Toby, Toby get it, get it.’
“The dog can then be seen joining the first dog in attacking the badger again.
“The men heard to be present during the recording made no attempt or effort to get the dogs under control and prevent them from fighting and attacking the badger.”
Her colleague, inspector Chris Haywood from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, which investigates wildlife crime, also gave evidence.
He said: “In my opinion, and based on previous experience, these wounds were caused by close combative contact with a badger.
“In 34 years of dealing with dogs I have never seen these types of injuries on any other breeds other than lurchers, bull lurchers and terriers, and known them to be caused by any other means than by a badger.”
In his evidence, the vet who examined Toby said the scars on his head, muzzle, throat and chest, represented skin injuries that had healed and had therefore occurred at least four weeks prior to his examination.
“In my opinion, Toby would have been caused to suffer in the absence of timely and appropriate veterinary care at the time of skin injury,” he said.
“With regards to the video footage, the person present at the time the two dogs were attacking the badger failed to take reasonable steps to intervene and bring the dog under close control in order to prevent him from continuing to fight with the badger, thereby failing to protect these animals from injury, pain and suffering.”
In mitigation, the court heard Lawlor had been a jockey who had come over from Ireland after his career had ended because of injury.
He said he accepted badger baiting was abhorrent and apologised for his actions.
Toby was cared for by the RSPCA. The whereabouts and owner of the other dog seen in the video are unknown.
Speaking after sentencing, inspector Taylor said: “This case has taken a long time to conclude but I’m pleased that both men who were involved in this case have been held to account for their actions.
“Illegal badger baiting causes significant pain, suffering, huge distress and even death to the animals involved, all for the enjoyment of people who take part in it and shockingly, find pleasure in such activities.
“We would urge anyone with information about incidents like this to report them to the RSPCA or their local rural crime team.”
Co-defendant Carl Harwood, of 16 Cobden Street, Padiham, Burnley BB12 8DS, was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from keeping animals for five years in February 2023.
Sentencing | jailed for eight weeks.
