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RSPCA: Two plead guilty to badger offences

RSPCA: Two plead guilty to badger offences

Hunt members illegally interfered with sett

Two leading Wiltshire huntsmen have today (7 May) pleaded guilty to damaging a badger sett contrary to the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 at Chippenham Magistrates’ Court in a case brought by the RSPCA.

The court heard that the sett was damaged by Stuart Timothy Radbourne (10/04/84) of The Common, Bronham, Chippenham and Benjamin George Pethers (02/05/84) of Eastbrook, Hoopers Pool, Southwick whilst they were out hunting with the Avon Vale Hunt in March 2012.

Radbourne is the joint master of foxhounds and Pethers is the terrier man for the Avon Vale Hunt. 

The RSPCA received a call that a group of men had been seen on and around a badger sett in Stockley Hollow at the time that the Avon Vale was riding in the vicinity.  The police were alerted.  Pethers and Radbourne were at the sett and hidden in a nearby hedgerow were various shovels, nets and radio devices used for underground tracking. 

On examining the area, RSPCA inspector Ian Burns found that a large hole had been dug directly down into the active badger sett, breaking a tunnel and entrances had been blocked up.  A small Patterdale terrier emerged from the sett, muddy, dazed and bleeding badly from his jaw.  He was fitted with an underground location collar.  The dog, which belonged to Pethers, was taken to a vet who found his injuries were consistent with having been attacked by the claws and teeth of an animal whilst underground.

The defendants gave conflicting accounts at the scene including chasing foxes, rabbits and searching for a lost dog. 

Inspector Burns said:  “This was the worst damage caused to a badger sett I’ve seen.  These defendants chose to severely and intentionally damage a well-known and active sett.  This is clearly illegal.  Everyone should respect our wildlife and the laws that are there to protect them.”

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Notes to editors

Both were fined £300 and ordered to pay £250 towards costs, with a victim surcharge payable of £15 each.

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