Pair convicted on badger offences

Two men who visited a Shropshire wood with terrier dogs and dug into a badgers’ sett have been convicted of a catalogue of offences after being caught on camera by undercover RSPCA inspectors.

Watch the RSPCA’s video footage above (no sound).

Paul Billington, 33, of Rossett, Wrexham, and Gerard Monk, 27, of Wheelton, Lancashire, had each denied six charges at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.

But the magistrates found them guilty of attempting to kill a badger, digging for badgers, three charges of interfering with a badgers’ sett and hunting a wild mammal with dogs. Sentence was adjourned until July 22.

The pair went onto land near Ashford Grange Farm, Whitchurch, in May last year, before setting terrier dogs to find a badgers’ sett and then digging into it to find a badger, the court heard.

They claimed Billington wanted to buy dogs from Monk, so they had visited the farm to meet and discuss the animals. Both said they thought the dogs had chased rabbits into the sett, and were digging the sett in order to get the dogs out.

James Ashley, RSPCA badger expert, told the trial he thought the site was an active badgers’ sett, judging by the fresh tracks and size and shape of the holes.

Speaking after the case, Ian Briggs, RSPCA Chief Inspector, said “video evidence proved vital in bringing this case to court and securing a guilty verdict”.

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