Man sentenced for badger baiting following Scottish SPCA investigation
Robert King, from Motherwell, was sentenced at Lanark Sheriff Court after being found guilty of two charges under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
The 33-year-old was caught in the act of digging into an active badger sett in woodland near Carluke Train Station on 25 April 2018. King had sent two Jack Russell Terriers into the sett, both of which were fitted with locator collars to allow King to determine the location of the dogs whilst underground.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe Scottish SPCA was called to provide assistance and when the terriers returned to the surface they were found to have injuries indicative of having fought with a badger.
One of the dogs had to be euthanised because of the severity of its injuries.
King also had a lurcher with him at the time which was taken by the SSPCA.
The court made a deprivation order removing the surviving terrier and the lurcher from King’s ownership.
King was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and given a Restriction of Liberty Order for a seven-month period.
Sara Shaw, Head of Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit said: “I welcome the conviction and sentence of Robert King and the message it sends to others who would cause such terrible and unnecessary suffering.
“The law protects badgers from harm as well as dogs from being used for fighting.
“I would like to thank Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA for their part in investigating and gathering evidence of these offences.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"COPFS will continue to work to ensure those who participate in this barbaric practice are prosecuted and would encourage anyone who may have information on animal fighting to contact Police Scotland."
A Scottish SPCA SIU undercover inspector said, “It was wonderful to see the badgers had protected their cubs from what could have been a devastating incident.
“Badgers are peaceful creatures and will only fight if cornered. If they have young, they will protect them to the death.
“Badger mothers are vicious when they have young. Sending a dog down in to a sett with a nursing female is incredibly dangerous, not only for the badger but for the dog, as we’ve seen in this case.
“This case further highlights the significance of utilising our expertise to work in collaboration with Police Scotland to bring an organised animal fighters to justice.
“We are pleased that awareness of badger baiting and animal fighting among members of the public is increasing. These are abhorrent crimes and we are pleased King has been found guilty.
“It’s not often that stories like this have a positive outcome but the badger cubs and their thriving family is a very happy ending.”
Inspector Ross McCallum, of Lanark's Community Policing Team, said: "I hope this shows we take wildlife crime seriously and we would always encourage the public to contact us if they believe wildlife crime is happening in their area."