Badger-baiters who laughed at ‘barbaric’ dog attack are jailed

An RSPCA inspector hailed it as a “landmark case” which was brought about after renowned wildlife artist and photographer Robert Fuller stumbled across the scene after hearing the animals’ screams.

Alan Alexander, 32, Richard Simpson, 37, and Paul Tindall, 31, from York, and William Anderson, 26, from Pickering, were all handed 16-week jail sentences for their parts in the savage act at Howsham, near Malton, on January 30 last year.

Following an eight-day trial, the four were convicted of wilfully killing a badger, hunting a mammal with dogs, digging for badgers and interfering with a badger sett.

Christopher Holmes and Malcolm Warner, both 28, from York, admitted the offences at an earlier hearing and escaped with 12-week suspended prison sentences and were ordered to complete 200 hours of community service. All six were each ordered to pay £750 costs and £100 compensatio was made the subject of a youth rehabilitation order.

The latest RSPCA figures reveal there were 11 convictions for offences against badgers in 2009 under one legal act. However, other cases have been brought under further legislation.

Describing it as is the worst case of badger cruelty he has seen in 20 years, Scarborough RSPCA inspector Geoff Edmond said: “This was a landmark case which has seen seven people involved in this truly barbaric act in our back-yard sentenced.

“It is incredibly difficult to get a case like this to court as it relies on catching those involved in the act, as happened here, and the person or people doing so having the bravery not to let them get away with it.

“We very much hope the publicity surrounding this case will prove a deterrent to others and encourage those people’s family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues to tell us who they are.”

Prosecutor Sobia Ahmed told Scarborough magistrates the men had arrived on the land at Paradise Farm “equipped with the relevant items they needed” for the attack.

A Bedlington Terrier had been fitted with a tracer and sent into the badger sett to find the animals. Once it discovered a badger, a receiver above ground told the men the location of the animals and they dug a hole to remove them.

One badger, which was heavily pregnant, was attacked by around 13 lurchers, causing it to be “torn to pieces” until it bled to death. A second had been shot after a severe attack by the pack of dogs. One was thrown back into the badger sett while another was found in undergrowth. She said the men were “laughing” as they watched the attack.

The animals’ screams attracted the attention of artist and photographer Robert Fuller and his friend Ged Farmer who contacted the police and kept them informed of the location.

Mr Fuller said: “I’m afraid this case is just the tip of the iceberg and there are people who breed dogs such as those involved in this case specifically to hunt large wild animals. These bull lurchers are like greyhounds on steroids and people use them to take deer, foxes and even domestic cats for sport. I can’t pretend it was easy having to give evidence in court but it was important and I’d do it again if I had to.”

District Judge Kristina Harrison had special praise for Mr Fuller, who secretly photographed the men, and added: “The people of Yorkshire will not tolerate badger baiting in their midst. It’s barbaric and abhorrent and anybody convicted of this type of offence will receive a custodial sentence of imprisonment. This is intended as a clear signal to anyone who seeks to engage in this behaviour.”

Sgt Paul Stephenson, who was also commended for his role in the investigation, said: “I think this has been an absolutely excellent result. The judge has mirrored the feelings of the public in the convictions. People will not tolerate vicious and barbaric acts against such defenceless animals.”