Three individuals appeared at Thameside Magistrates Court on February 3rd and 4th this year following a joint investigation by Cheshire Police’s Rural Crime Team and the Special Operations Unit of Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Grant Leigh Snr, 52, of Marler Road, Hyde, appeared in court along with his son, Grant Leigh Jnr, 30, and Leigh Jnr’s girlfriend, Paris Jade Carding, 28, both of Fawley Grove, Wythenshawe. Leigh Jnr changed his plea to guilty and admitted seven offences at the start of the trial. Magistrates heard evidence in respect of Leigh Snr and Carding, convicting them of two and five offences respectively.

Posts made by Leigh Snr on a private Facebook group suggesting he was going to take his son badger baiting to celebrate his release from prison were reported to police. Search warrants for two addresses in Greater Manchester were executed on October 26, 2020 and a further search under warrant was conducted at Carding’s address on December 23, 2020.

A search of mobile phones revealed recordings “of extensive and graphic badger and fox persecution”. The court was told that Leigh Jnr’s partner, Paris Carding, was present during these recordings. It was alleged that she was responsible for taking the footage, was heard encouraging both Leigh Jnr and the dogs during the attacks. Some dogs found during the searches could be seen on the videos from the phones being used to hunt and fight wildlife just two days before they were seized.

In total seven dogs were removed during the various searches. An independent vet called to the scene said: “All seven dogs had evidence of skin scarring and with the exception of one, all the dogs had injuries to, or had missing teeth.” “These findings are commonly encountered when a dog has been fighting with another animal of similar size and stature.” He also said two of the dogs had evidence of de-gloving injuries to the chin/jaw, concluding: “In my experience a de-gloving injury of the chin is commonly encountered when a dog fights with a badger.”

The case was adjourned and all three will be sentenced on March 9.