Trial sees images of Telford accused out hunting
A trial of three men accused of causing or attempting to cause animal fights has been shown pictures of the accused out hunting with their dogs.
During a cross examination of RSPCA officer Hannah Bryer, the court saw images of the men on a possible 'flushing out' of a fox with terriers.
Previously Ms Bryer gave evidence she had attended Samuel Boylett's home where she found several dogs and discovered the digital material, including pictures of the defendants and some of the dogs.
Samuel Boylett, 33, his father Charles Boylett, 69, both of Burtondale, Brookside, Telford, and Mark Paddock, 45, of no fixed address, are on trial at Telford Magistrates Court. Yesterday defence solicitor Sara-Lise Howe showed some of the images in court asking Mrs Bryer to describe what she saw.
Images showed Paddock, with Samuel Boylett holding a firearm, and other men, digging with an animal tracker nearby, a small terrier dog covered in mud wearing a tracker and another dog being sent down a hole. It was not clear from the images when the firearm was discharged. The court previously heard that a number of dogs – some with injuries – were seized by police from Samuel Boylett's home, on March 28, 2014.
Samuel Boylett denies 14 charges including causing or attempting to cause an animal fight to take place. He denies six counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. Paddock denies three counts of causing or attempting to cause an animal fight to take place and a charge of causing unnecessary suffering. Charles Boylett and Paddock deny three charges of being present at animal fights in 2014. Samuel Boylett denies four charges of being present at animal fights in 2013 and 2014.
The trial continues.
