JACK STARKEY OF FLEETWOOD SENTENCED FOR BADGER AND ANIMAL WELFARE OFFENCES IN LANCASHIRE

Jack Starkey, born on December 10, 1990, and residing on Bold Street in Fleetwood FY7, was convicted in 2019 of multiple offences related to badger persecution and animal cruelty. The father of two admitted two charges under the Protection of Badgers Act and one under the Animal Welfare Act.

Starkey was set to stand trial for several charges but chose to plead guilty prior to the commencement of the proceedings. The incident in question occurred on January 3, 2019, in Bluebell Wood, Denton, Greater Manchester, where two dog walkers discovered Starkey and three accomplices engaged in badger baiting. They had been digging out a badger from its sett and subsequently allowing a dog to attack the animal.

The dog walkers contacted police and an animal welfare organization, who found the severely injured badger at the scene. Sadly, due to the extent of its injuries, the badger could not be saved.

The following day, Chris Heyworth, an officer from the Special Operations Unit—a team specialized in investigating serious animal crimes such as wildlife offences and animal fighting—was notified by the Lancashire Badger Group. He visited the location, which was only 70 yards from a road, and described the scene: “Unfortunately I’ve seen many disturbed badger setts and examples of badger digging in my 28 years as an RSPCA officer, and it was clear this sett had been recently dug. In badger digging, a terrier with a tracking collar is often used to corner the badger so that people above ground can excavate it. A large hole, known as a crowning point, is dug, and the badger is typically pulled out by a large dog, often a bull lurcher.” He added that the badly injured badger had been taken to a vet but had to be euthanized due to its wounds.

Police and RSPCA investigations led to a suspect’s residence in Hodder Avenue, Fleetwood, where a warrant was executed on February 12, 2019. Three dogs were found inside the property, with two showing extensive scarring and one having an open sore on its leg. The occupants claimed the dogs belonged to Starkey, who was subsequently contacted for interview.

Inspector Heyworth explained: “We collected DNA swabs from the badger’s wounds, which were later compared to DNA from the three seized dogs. Two of the dogs were excluded, but results showed that a rare DNA profile—present in only about one in 100 dogs—was found on the badger and in one of the dogs.”

Starkey was charged with attempted killing of a badger, digging a sett, and causing suffering to one of his dogs. He has connections with the travelling community and eventually pleaded guilty to all charges.

The three dogs involved remain in RSPCA care and will be rehomed. Inspector Heyworth expressed gratitude for the cooperation from Lancashire Police, Lancashire Badger Group, High Peak Badger Group, and Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA). He emphasized that the case sends a strong message to those involved in persecuting badgers locally and beyond.

In sentencing, Starkey received a 16-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months, along with 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 hours of rehabilitation activities. He was also ordered to pay costs amounting to £1,115 and received an eight-year ban on keeping dogs.