A group of men from South Wales travelled to Devon to use their dogs in a series of “abhorrent attacks” on deer, badgers and foxes.
Plymouth Magistrates’ Court was shown graphic and distressing footage of the dogs’ attacks while the gang’s ring leader looked on and gave encouragement.
The court heard how trophy photos and videos of dogs with their kills, and their injuries sustained during fights with badgers and foxes, were shared among members of the group who travelled from South Wales as well as Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
District Judge Diane Baker described Graham Coombes, of Abbey Road in Bovey Tracey in Devon, as the “ringleader” of “organised animal hunting that involved the training of dogs who were [his] tools; tools to hunt and kill”.
“You’ve absolutely no regard for the welfare of these animals,” she told him.
The list of kills even included a llama
Jeremy Cave, prosecutor for the RSPCA, said the gang’s activities came to light after an incident in 2015 when Coombes was confronted by a landowner as he was hunting on land for deer without permission.
Coombes got into an altercation and then launched a car chase which ended at a police station.
When police came out to deal with the commotion in the car park, Coombes hurled his mobile phone into a bush.
Examination of his phone found thousands of photos, texts and videos relating to the hunting of wild animals with dogs.
The list of kills found on his phone even included a llama.
This video shows horrific attacks on a deer and badger
WARNING : GRAPHIC, DISTRESSING FOOTAGE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY
Mr Cave said some evidence suggested a commercial enterprise with the sale of deer carcasses.
He said Coombes was at the “centre of the operation, organising nights out, posting trophy pictures on social media”.
Mr Cave said the group would go out ‘lamping’ – using powerful lamps at night to startle and stun deer before setting dogs – usually lurchers – on them.
He said their aim was “to kill as much wildlife as possible”.
Mr Cave said the men would travel to Devon to take part in hunting, sharing their efforts and bragging about their dogs’ kills.
He said a search of Coombes’ land found a pile of animal carcasses with at least 20 separate skulls.
Clive Rees, representing Coombes, said his client wanted to apologise to the court “primarily to his co-accused because of the information provided by him on his mobile phone”.
He said Coombes came before the court a “very frightened man” who was described by employers as “honest, trustworthy and reliable”.
Mr Rees said he had “suffered a great deal of criticism” and had “threats of violence” aimed at him.
These are some of their horrendous attacks
The court was shown a series of video clips which revealed a number of different attacks on wild animals, the Plymouth Herald reports.
In one it showed three terrier-like dogs barking around a caged vixen who appeared terrified.
Another clip showed one of the dogs inside the same cage, savaging the neck of the fox as it screamed and wailed in pain.
It was followed by a clip showing two dogs dragging a fox from the cage onto a field as they rip it apart.
Another video showed a fox strung up by its tail as three terrier dogs savaged its face and neck.
'They wanted them for the fight, for destruction'
Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA Chief Inspector Will Mitchell said Coombes’ phone contained around 30,000 images “mostly depicting wildlife crime and the use of dogs to kill wildlife, around 11,000 text messages, and videos”.
He said: “This was a very serious case, demonstrated by crossing several county boundaries – this was an organised group, including people from Devon, Dorset, Somerset, South Wales and Surrey.
“There would be the bravado in terms of the type of dogs used and the successes of the dogs. They wanted them for the fight, for destruction.”
Chief Inspector Mitchell added: “They might say this was sport or pest control – but it’s blood lust. There is immense damage to the wild animals and to the dogs themselves.”
This is who was in the gang
Coombes, 41, pleaded guilty to three counts of intentionally killing deer at night, two counts of willfully killing a badger and one of willfully injuring a badger.
He also pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier called Marley by failing to treat its injuries.
He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, was ordered to pay £3,000 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge. He was disqualified for keeping dogs for life.
Pheon Radford, 22, of Ystrad in the Rhondda Valley , pleaded guilty to killing a deer and caused unnecessary suffering to a dog.
District Judge Baker said Radford left his dog Scar to suffer from an “unpleasant” injury and listed previous scars on its body. She said he had deliberately travelled from Wales to take part in the deer hunts.
She sentenced him for a total of 10 weeks, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to complete 150 hours unpaid work, pay £800 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified from keeping dogs for three years and to forfeit his dog Scar.
Philip Cross, 36, of Tonypandy in the Rhondda, was found guilty after trial of killing deer at night.
He was jailed for eight weeks and disqualified for keeping dogs for five years. He was ordered to pay £4,000 court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Dean McGrath, 29, of Cwmbran , pleaded guilty to killing deer.
McGrath was handed a six week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. District Judge Baker ordered him to complete 160 hours unpaid work, pay £800 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to forfeit his dog Blue.
Joseph O’Connor, 23, from Pontardawe near Swansea , admitted three charges of killing deer in 2014.
District Judge Baker told O’Connor the killing of deer was “absolutely abhorrent, it’s barbaric”.
She handed him a nine-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. He also has to complete 200 hours unpaid work, pay £800 court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Gethyn Durham, 27, from Cwmbran, admitted one count of killing a deer.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a pitbull-type dangerous dog and five charges of keeping other dogs in an unsuitable environment.
He was jailed for six weeks followed by 12 months supervision. He was ordered to pay £800 court costs and £115 victim surcharge.
Oliver Blatch, 27, of Sturminster Newton, Dorset, pleaded guilty to two counts of killing deer at night.
He was sentenced to eight weeks, suspended for one year, and ordered to complete 180 hours unpaid leave, pay £800 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Kenneth Danes, 29, of Culmhead near Taunton, pleaded guilty to two counts of killing deer at night.
He was sentenced to eight weeks, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £800 court costs, a £60 victim surcharge and to forfeit his dog.
Brian Forrest, 40, of Kingston St Mary, near Taunton, pleaded guilty to killing deer.
He was sentenced to six weeks in jail, suspended for a year, ordered to complete 140 hours unpaid work, pay £800 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge and forfeit his dog Eve.
Ryan Robinson, 20, of Foundry Court in Chudleigh, admitted taking a deer without the consent of the owner.
He was handed a 12 month community order, take part in a 10 day rehabilitation requirement, complete 200 hours unpaid work and pay £800 court costs and a victim surcharge of £85.
Daniel Ravenscroft, 37, of Grange Road, Buckfast, was found guilty after trial of killing deer at night.He was sentenced to six weeks custody, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work, forfeit his dog and pay £4,000 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/gang-men-used-dogs-carry-12283563
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