A former jockey has been despatched to jail after footage on his cell phone confirmed him illegally combating two dogs with a badger in Lancashire.
One of the dogs had 22 individual scarred puncture wounds on the aspect of his head from the incident.
The “absolutely horrific” movie, which was recorded in Burnley in June 2021, was described by an RSPCA inspector as “very difficult to watch and to listen to”.
Brandon Lawlor, 23, of Lowerhouse Lane, Burnley, pleaded responsible to at least one offence opposite to the Protection of Badgers Act 1991 when he appeared at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on September 21 in a prosecution introduced by the RSPCA.
There had been a warrant out for his arrest.
Magistrates have been informed police discovered the disturbing footage on his cell phone on August 13, 2021, after he was being investigated – together with one other man – for non-related offences.
Toby (Image: RSPCA)
Two dogs, together with a 14-month-old bull lurcher referred to as Toby, have been seen attacking the badger on the top, throat and again, with a male voice encouraging them on.
RSPCA inspector Lyndsey Taylor, together with the charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) and Lancashire Police’s Ribble Valley rural job pressure, visited the defendant’s home on October 19, 2021.
The court docket heard how they went into the lounge and noticed Toby being held on a lead.
The canine, which was carrying the identical kind of collar as that seen within the cell phone footage, had a big scar which ran lengthwise alongside almost your complete size of the highest of his head.
On the left-hand aspect of the decrease jaw and surrounding space there have been 22 individual scarred puncture wounds, and on the right-hand aspect there have been 9.
More recent scarring and scabbing was seen beneath the canine’s left hind paw and decrease leg.
Another man who was on the property with Lawlor informed the officers the accidents had been sustained whereas out lamping and ratting.
Inspector Taylor was involved about Toby’s welfare and he was seized by police and brought by the RSPCA to be seen by a vet.
In her proof to the court docket, inspector Taylor described the cell phone footage.
She mentioned: “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 particular operations unit, which investigates wildlife crime, additionally gave proof.
He mentioned: “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 proof, the vet who examined Toby mentioned the scars on his head, muzzle, throat and chest, represented pores and skin accidents that had healed and had due to this fact occurred no less than 4 weeks previous 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 mentioned.
“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 docket heard Lawlor had been a jockey who had come over from Ireland after his profession had ended due to harm.
He mentioned he accepted badger baiting was abhorrent and apologised for his actions.
Toby was cared for by the RSPCA. The whereabouts and proprietor of the opposite canine seen within the video are unknown.
Speaking after sentencing, inspector Taylor mentioned: “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.”
Lawlor was jailed for eight weeks.
The different man within the case, Carl Harwood, 28, of Padiham, who admitted to proudly owning Toby, was given a 16-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from protecting animals for 5 years in February of this yr.
