Jack Starkey, 29, of Hodder Avenue, Fleetwood, was charged with offences of attempting to kill a badger, digging a sett and causing suffering to one of the dogs in his care. He pleaded guilty before the trial commenced and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. Starkey was also given a 20-hour rehabilitation activity requirement, ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £1,000. The court deprived him of his dogs and banned him from keeping dogs for eight years.

On February 3, an RSPCA officer was called to an injured badger in Bluebell Wood, Denton, Greater Manchester, and took it to a vet where they identified that the animal had been attacked by a dog. The badger was so badly injured it could not be saved but DNA swabs were taken of its wounds. Information led to Jack Starkey as a suspect and the RSPCA and Lancashire Police executed a warrant on February 12 at an address in Hodder Avenue. Three dogs were found inside, two with extensive scarring and one with an open sore on his leg. The dogs were seized and the DNA swabs from the badger’s wounds were later compared with DNA taken from them. One dog had a rare type of DNA – found in only one in 100 dogs – which was found on the badger. Faced with the overwhelming evidence Starkey decided to plead guilty.

Excellent work by the RSPCA Special Operations Unit, Lancashire Police, Lancashire Badger Group, High Peak Badger Group and Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA).

Further details from Lancashire Telegraph here.