Soldier jailed for badger baiting
02 Feb 2006 - BBC News
A
soldier has been jailed for six months after he was found guilty of
badger baiting.
Craig Trevelyan, 32, of Pen y Groes, Carmarthenshire, was part of
a gang which dug the badger out of its sett at Lydney in the Forest
of Dean. The animal was then set upon by dogs, before being shot. Trevelyan, a sergeant with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, was
convicted of three offences under the Protection of Badgers Act.
Coleford Magistrates' Court heard police were tipped off about
the offences by animal lover Andrew Downie, who had seen the soldier
ad the rest of the gang at the sett. Officers later found Trevelyan's digital camera and Toyota car
near the scene. A terrier dog injured in the fight with the badger
was also discovered nearby.
Mr Downie, who tried to stop the gang leaving and scratched out
the Toyota's registration number in mud on the forest floor was
awarded £250 by magistrates for his "courageous" actions.
Trevelyan was ordered to forfeit any weapon used in the offence
and banned from keeping dogs for seven years. His car was also
confiscated and he was banned from driving for 12 months. His lawyer, Clive Rees, said the soldier, who had denied the
charges, intended to appeal against the court's decision.
Outside court, RSPCA Chief Inspector Lee Hopgood said he was
"absolutely delighted" with the sentence. "This shows other people involved in this activity that if they
are caught they will be prosecuted. It is an offence that involves
an immense amount of cruelty."
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