Judge throws out animal fighting charges against Telford men

Charles Boylett, his son Samuel Boylett, both of Burtondale, Brookside, Telford, and Mark Paddock, of no fixed address, faced a string of charges alleging that dogs were encouraged to fight with wild animals in 2013 and 2014.

But District Judge Nigel Cadbury told Telford Magistrates Court yesterday that it had not been proven that an animal had been placed with another animal for the purposes of fighting. He ruled there was "no case to answer" for the charges relating to animal fighting.

The charges alleging the three men had been present at animal fights were dismissed, alongside charges that 33-year-old Samuel Boylett and 45-year-old Paddock had attempted to or caused animal fighting to take place.

It came after submissions were made by defence solicitors Sara-Lise Howe and Nigel Weller suggesting the men were hunting and could have been carrying out "fox flushing" exercises with terriers.

Samuel Boylett still stands accused of five charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, while Paddock now faces a single charge of causing unnecessary suffering. All charges against 69-year-old Charles Boylett have been thrown out.

Nine terrier and lurcher-type dogs were seized from Samuel Boylett's home in Telford on March 28, 2014. Prosecutors say some of the animals were injured and unnecessary suffering was caused to some of the dogs by failure to seek appropriate veterinary treatment.

Vet Colin Vogel, giving evidence yesterday, said

a dog in pain may be more aggressive but added that the dogs seized from Samuel Boylett's home did not seem in pain when they were examined by a vet.

He said one of the dogs appeared to not be putting its full weight on one paw for a short while during its examination but claimed it was a "temporary effect" and he had no idea what caused it. The trial continues.