DONCASTER MAN DAVID FARROW TORTURES SQUIRRELS WITH FENN TRAPS IN DONCASTER

David Farrow, a resident of Thorne Road in Doncaster, has been convicted of animal cruelty after a series of disturbing incidents involving the torture and killing of grey squirrels. Born around 1951, Farrow’s actions have shocked the local community and prompted a serious investigation by animal welfare authorities.

Reports from multiple witnesses led to the RSPCA launching an inquiry into Farrow’s conduct at his former residence on Ranworth Close in Cusworth, Doncaster. The allegations centered around trapping squirrels using illegal methods and subjecting them to unnecessary suffering, including drowning them in water. Farrow admitted to causing such suffering and to using a Fenn trap in circumstances that were not approved under the law.

Farrow justified his actions by claiming that the squirrels were pests, which prompted him to trap them. Despite being informed that his trapping methods were unlawful, he continued to use Fenn traps to catch the animals. On June 27, 2021, RSPCA inspector Tamsin Drysdale visited Farrow’s bungalow, where he showed her a humane trap set up in a lean-to. During the visit, Farrow explained that he would catch the squirrels in the trap and then drown them in a water butt, a method he believed was acceptable.

Inspector Drysdale clarified to Farrow that while his trap was legal, drowning the squirrels was an offence under animal welfare laws. Farrow claimed he was unaware of this regulation and stated that he would now dispatch the animals with an air rifle. He also mentioned that he would have his nephew kill the squirrels with a shotgun, which the inspector noted gave the impression that Farrow was not taking the matter seriously.

Two weeks later, the inspector returned to Farrow’s property, accompanied by a police officer. During this visit, Farrow claimed he was still trapping squirrels but had ceased drowning them. Despite being instructed to stop his activities, further inspections revealed that he continued trapping squirrels illegally. On October 15, 2021, RSPCA inspectors found a critically injured squirrel caught in a Fenn trap, hanging by its front leg from a rope suspended from the roof of the lean-to. The animal was in severe distress, screaming and visibly suffering. The inspectors made the difficult decision to euthanize the squirrel to end its pain.

An expert veterinary report confirmed that the squirrel’s front leg had been crushed by the trap, and the animal was in considerable pain. The report highlighted the cruelty involved in the trapping method, which is supposed to be set in natural or artificial tunnels under the Pest Acts 1954. Farrow’s defense argued that he checked the traps twice daily and claimed that if he had known the animal was trapped, he would have euthanized it earlier. He also stated that he was unaware of the specific trap requirements and that his actions were motivated by a desire to control the local squirrel population, which he claimed was causing problems in his loft.

In court, magistrates sentenced Farrow to a fine of £160. They acknowledged that his actions demonstrated incompetence rather than deliberate cruelty, emphasizing that he was not someone intentionally seeking to harm animals. The court also ordered him to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £100 in court costs. As Farrow now resides in a bedsit without outdoor access, the magistrates expressed doubt that he would continue such behavior, suggesting that his current living situation would prevent further incidents. The case has drawn attention to the importance of lawful and humane pest control methods, and the community remains concerned about animal welfare violations in the Doncaster area.