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| Badger-baiters given jail warning | Badger-baiters given jail warning |
| (10 minutes 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 five 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." |
| 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 as extremely serious and to my mind this type of offence should attract a custodial sentence." | |
| It shows that ourselves and the courts are not going to tolerate this kind of cruelty Insp Jody Gordon, RSPCA | It shows that ourselves and the courts are not going to tolerate this kind of cruelty Insp Jody Gordon, RSPCA |
| 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. |
| The men had claimed they were legally hunting rabbits. | The men had claimed they were legally hunting rabbits. |
| 'Unfortunate accident' | 'Unfortunate accident' |
| 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, defending | This 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." |