CHRISTIAN LATCHAM OF TONYPANDY INVOLVED IN BADGER BAITING AND ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES

Christian Latcham, a man born around 1987 and residing on Morton Terrace in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has a long history of involvement in brutal wildlife persecution and animal cruelty. His actions, which have garnered significant attention and condemnation, include setting his dogs upon badgers, foxes, and deer, acts that are widely regarded as barbaric and inhumane.

Latcham’s disturbing activities came to light through a series of investigations and court proceedings. He was convicted in 2011 of multiple charges related to animal cruelty, including two counts under the Animal Welfare Act and six under the Badger Act. Despite the severity of his offenses, he narrowly avoided imprisonment, receiving a five-month prison sentence that was suspended for one year, along with 250 hours of unpaid community service, a fine of £1,000, and an indefinite disqualification from owning dogs.

Evidence against Latcham was particularly shocking, as it was uncovered on his mobile phone. Prosecutors, led by Geraint Richards, presented the court with graphic images depicting the extent of his cruelty. These included a severed badger’s head, photographs of his dogs attacking a badger, and images of Latcham himself holding bloodstained animal carcasses. The court was told that these images demonstrated a pattern of sickening cruelty towards wildlife.

Further details revealed that Latcham’s cruelty was not an isolated incident. When he was arrested in 2009 for a different offense, police officers became suspicious of his behavior as he hurriedly tried to hide his mobile phone. Upon seizing the device, they discovered numerous images of him holding up carcasses of foxes, deer, and badgers, confirming his active participation in illegal wildlife persecution.

During the court proceedings, Clive Rees, representing Latcham, argued that his client lacked empathy and social skills, suggesting that he was unable to comprehend the suffering inflicted upon the animals. However, the chairman of the bench, Mike Hanley, condemned Latcham’s actions as deliberate and unprovoked, emphasizing that they represented “unspeakable cruelty.”

As part of the sentencing, authorities confiscated two dogs used in the baiting activities. RSPCA inspector Simon Evans highlighted that badger baiting had become a significant problem in South Wales, noting that cases like Latcham’s, with clear evidence of cruelty, are rare but indicative of a broader issue.

Despite his ban from keeping dogs, Latcham’s involvement in illegal activities persisted. In a 2018 BBC Wales documentary titled ‘The Secret World of Badger Baiters,’ he was shown actively participating in baiting alongside Jamie Rush, a known associate. The documentary also revealed that other individuals, including Tomas Young and Ryan Harrison—who were jailed in June 2019 for similar offenses—had engaged in such cruelty. Young’s heinous acts included skinning a badger cub alive and feeding it to his dogs, illustrating the brutal nature of this underground activity.

Overall, Christian Latcham’s case underscores the ongoing issues of wildlife cruelty and illegal baiting in South Wales, highlighting the need for continued enforcement and public awareness to combat these inhumane practices.