ANDREW MULLEN UDDINGSTON BADGER BAITING RING LEADER CONVICTED IN SCOTLAND

Andrew Mullen, a man with a notorious reputation linked to illegal animal cruelty activities in Uddingston, has been formally convicted of serious charges related to animal fighting and cruelty. The conviction stems from a police and animal welfare raid conducted at his residence, which uncovered a disturbing collection of evidence implicating him in the organization and facilitation of illegal dog fights involving wild animals such as badgers, foxes, and deer.

Born on November 9, 1974, Mullen previously resided at Hickory Crescent in Uddingston and more recently at 116 McCracken Drive, G71 5ND. The raid was prompted by an undercover investigation carried out by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA), which had been monitoring Mullen’s activities for some time. During the operation, officers seized a substantial number of photographs from his home, revealing graphic images of dogs engaged in violent fights with badgers, foxes, and deer. These images depicted not only the brutal nature of the activities but also Mullen himself holding up dead foxes or laying them on the ground as trophies of his cruelty.

In addition to the photographic evidence, police and animal welfare officers discovered five dogs in a severely injured state in the garden of Mullen’s Uddingston residence. The animals included three lurchers, a brown terrier-type puppy, and a terrier bitch. Veterinary examinations confirmed that three of these five dogs had injuries consistent with being used in badger baiting, a practice that is both illegal and widely condemned. The injuries ranged from deep lacerations to other signs of violent trauma, indicating the brutal treatment these animals had endured.

Mullen, who is unemployed, initially denied actively participating in dog fighting activities involving his animals. However, he admitted to allowing others to use his dogs for fighting and acknowledged that he was aware of their intended use against badgers. He also confessed to breaching the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 by keeping five dogs for the purpose of animal fighting between January 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010. His actions marked a significant breach of animal welfare laws, and his case became notable as he was the first individual in Scotland to be convicted under this legislation for keeping dogs for baiting wild animals.

The court proceedings culminated in a sentencing that included a six-month curfew, 200 hours of community service, and a lifetime ban on owning or keeping animals. Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the importance of the legislation in protecting both domestic and wild animals. Flynn stated, “We are delighted that Andrew Mullen has been convicted of keeping dogs for the purpose of fighting following our investigation and that a life ban on keeping animals has been imposed.”

Flynn also highlighted the ongoing fight against badger baiting, describing it as a heinous crime that causes immense suffering to badgers. He urged the public to come forward with any information related to such activities, even if anonymously, to help authorities combat this blood sport. The Scottish SPCA remains committed to targeting individuals involved in illegal animal cruelty, and Mullen’s case serves as a stark reminder that such activities are illegal and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.