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Badger-baiters given jail warning Badger-baiters given jail warning
(about 1 hour later)
A district judge has warned two men they face jail sentences after finding them guilty of badger-baiting.A district judge has warned two men they face jail sentences after finding them guilty of badger-baiting.
Simon Evans, 40, and Peter McGuigan, 37, from Llandysul on the Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire border, had denied four charges brought by the RSPCA. Simon Evans, 40, and Peter McGuigan, 37, from Llandysul on the Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire border, had denied five charges brought by the RSPCA.
Police caught them disturbing a sett near Boncath, Pembrokeshire, and one of their dogs had a badger in its mouth.Police caught them disturbing a sett near Boncath, Pembrokeshire, and one of their dogs had a badger in its mouth.
After the Llanelli hearing, the RSPCA called it the most significant local badger-baiting case for 15 years.After the Llanelli hearing, the RSPCA called it the most significant local badger-baiting case for 15 years.
District judge Mark Layton, sitting at Llanelli magistrates' court, said it was a "pre-planned and sophisticated operation."District judge Mark Layton, sitting at Llanelli magistrates' court, said it was a "pre-planned and sophisticated operation."
It shows that ourselves and the courts are not going to tolerate this kind of cruelty Insp Jody Gordon, RSPCAIt shows that ourselves and the courts are not going to tolerate this kind of cruelty Insp Jody Gordon, RSPCA
He found them guilty of four charges but cleared them of another charge involving possession of a net.He found them guilty of four charges but cleared them of another charge involving possession of a net.
"I view these matters extremely seriously and in my view this type of offence should attract a custodial sentence.""I view these matters extremely seriously and in my view this type of offence should attract a custodial sentence."
Insp Jody Gordon of the RSPCA said: "It shows that ourselves and the courts are not going to tolerate this kind of cruelty."Insp Jody Gordon of the RSPCA said: "It shows that ourselves and the courts are not going to tolerate this kind of cruelty."
He thanked the police and the original caller who tipped them off to the men's activities, and appealed to anyone who saw any suspicious activity near a badger sett to contact either the RSPCA or police.He thanked the police and the original caller who tipped them off to the men's activities, and appealed to anyone who saw any suspicious activity near a badger sett to contact either the RSPCA or police.
The two friends were remanded on bail for reports and sentence was adjourned until 3 April.The two friends were remanded on bail for reports and sentence was adjourned until 3 April.
'Unfortunate accident''Unfortunate accident'
The men had claimed they were legally hunting rabbits.The men had claimed they were legally hunting rabbits.
But the prosecution claimed that both men went equipped to hunt badgers on the morning of 14 October, 2006.But the prosecution claimed that both men went equipped to hunt badgers on the morning of 14 October, 2006.
They were heard by a nearby landowner, who called police.They were heard by a nearby landowner, who called police.
When officers arrived a "limp" badger was found in the mouth of a lurcher dog belonging to them, the court was told.When officers arrived a "limp" badger was found in the mouth of a lurcher dog belonging to them, the court was told.
A metre-deep hole had been dug close to a badger sett and shovels carried by the friends were stained in blood.A metre-deep hole had been dug close to a badger sett and shovels carried by the friends were stained in blood.
This was an ordinary day out rabbiting for them Carina Hughes, defendingThis was an ordinary day out rabbiting for them Carina Hughes, defending
It is claimed the men "flushed" a badger out of its hole and then watched the "sport" as their dogs fought with it.It is claimed the men "flushed" a badger out of its hole and then watched the "sport" as their dogs fought with it.
In her closing submission Carina Hughes, representing McGuigan, had urged the judge to acquit both men.In her closing submission Carina Hughes, representing McGuigan, had urged the judge to acquit both men.
"This was an ordinary day out rabbiting for them," she said."This was an ordinary day out rabbiting for them," she said.
Ms Hughes said they had no idea they were close to a badger sett and it was an "accident" that the dogs had become involved in a fight with a badger.Ms Hughes said they had no idea they were close to a badger sett and it was an "accident" that the dogs had become involved in a fight with a badger.
"All the equipment they had could be used for rabbiting," she said."All the equipment they had could be used for rabbiting," she said.
"The dogs accidentally came across the badger. They [Evans and McGuigan] knew by what was happening that these animals were hurting one another."The dogs accidentally came across the badger. They [Evans and McGuigan] knew by what was happening that these animals were hurting one another.
"They knew that these animals needed separating - they did not want this to happen."They knew that these animals needed separating - they did not want this to happen.
"This unfortunate accident occurred and these men did everything they could.""This unfortunate accident occurred and these men did everything they could."