JAMIE BARNES FROM BINGHAM CAUGHT IN BADGER SETT AND DOG ABUSE SCANDALS IN NOTTINGHAM AND WREXHAM
| Red Rose Database
Bingham Animal Abuser
Jamie George Barnes, born on November 27, 1980, and previously residing at Fosse Farm on Fosse Road in Bingham, Nottingham, has once again found himself embroiled in serious wildlife and animal cruelty allegations. As of 2022, Barnes was living at 109 Carnarvon Place in Nottingham NG13 8FR. His involvement in animal abuse was first brought to public attention when it was revealed that his terriers had suffered horrific facial injuries while being used for fox hunting activities.
According to court reports, Barnes, a father of four, was subjected to an 18-month ban on keeping dogs after the RSPCA uncovered the extent of the injuries inflicted on his two Patterdale terriers, Ronnie and Striker. The injuries were so severe that one dog had a deformed and twisted jaw, with missing lips and gums, injuries that Barnes had attempted to treat himself at home rather than seeking professional veterinary care. The injuries were inflicted during the dogs' participation in fox hunting, specifically when they were sent down fox holes to pursue foxes.
During the court proceedings, a photograph was presented showing Barnes standing with his dogs, proudly holding up a dead fox, which underscored the context of their use in hunting activities. Prosecutor Harry Bowyer emphasized the neglect involved, stating, “These dogs should have been taken to the vet, whether what you were doing was lawful or not, a duty you shirked.” Barnes responded to this accusation by claiming, “I would never ever see any dog suffer.”
Defense lawyer Stephen Welford argued that Barnes was capable of caring for his dogs and had medications at his home. He pointed out that the RSPCA had seized 13 dogs during a raid on Barnes’ property but had returned seven of them, indicating that his general husbandry was still adequate. Welford also suggested that Barnes, who had worked with terriers for many years, had become somewhat immune to the injuries he observed during his work, which might have dulled his perception of their severity.
Veterinary expert Stephen Lomax, representing the defense, challenged the RSPCA’s claim that one injury was “more severe than having your chin ripped off,” asserting that the injuries did not threaten the dogs’ lives and should not be regarded as life-threatening. Despite this, Barnes was found guilty of two charges of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to seek veterinary treatment for his dogs between February and April 2014. He was acquitted of two other charges.
District Judge Tim Spruce highlighted the severity of the injuries, noting that the facial wounds, including deformed jaws, missing lips, and gums, would have caused significant pain and required substantial pain relief and medical intervention. The judge condemned Barnes for neglecting his duty of care, stating, “You failed to get appropriate treatment. There was significant pain and suffering. You failed to provide a proper and timely response.”
In addition to the animal cruelty conviction, Barnes revealed plans to establish a pest control business using terriers to manage vermin at a poultry farm and a pheasant shoot, where traditional methods like poison or guns were deemed unsuitable.
As part of his sentence, Barnes received a 12-week prison term, suspended for one year, along with 80 hours of unpaid community service. He was also banned from keeping dogs for 18 months, a ban that expired early in 2018.
Further troubling revelations emerged from social media screenshots from late 2019, which exposed Barnes’ apparent bloodlust and sadistic tendencies, including content from his Facebook account.
In October 2022, Barnes appeared in court again, this time in Wrexham, after being caught digging at an active badger sett. He was accompanied by Ben Lloyd Davies, born circa 1989, of Cwm Mawr in Belan, Welshpool SY1 8SQ. Both men were found guilty of interfering with badger setts at a farm near Maelor Wood in August 2021.
Prosecutor Jon Tarrant, representing the RSPCA, explained that police responded to reports of two men digging into a suspected badger sett. Upon arrival, officers confirmed with the landowner that he had permitted a hunt on his land the following day but had not authorized any activity that day. The police then located Barnes and Davies at the site, where they observed a large hole and a locator collar on a pile of soil. Barnes was seen lying on his stomach, reaching into the hole, with Davies crouched nearby.
When questioned, Barnes claimed they were rescuing a dog that had been put down after a fox encounter and had been lost. He later showed officers a muddy, shaken dog with a cut on its nose, which appeared to be a bite. The police found evidence of a badger sett at the site, including fresh bedding, trails, and a latrine, indicating recent activity. Barnes admitted they had been digging for about two hours before police intervention and that they intended to continue if not stopped.
The court heard that Barnes was employed by the Wynnstay Hunt and had been asked to locate a rogue fox ahead of the next day’s hunt. Both men accepted their actions but argued they believed they had legal authority under hunting legislation exemptions, which was not the case. The court noted that Barnes had a relevant conviction for causing suffering to an animal, specifically the untreated facial injuries of his dogs, which cast doubt on his credibility.
Both defendants, described as “hard-working family men,” accepted that they were wrong and that the sett showed signs of current use, although they did not damage the entrances or prevent the badgers from using the sett. The court concluded that their actions were reckless but did not cause lasting damage to the badger population.
For their offenses, Barnes and Davies were each fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a total of £700 in costs and surcharges. The court’s decisions reflect ongoing concerns about illegal hunting and wildlife persecution in the Nottingham and Wrexham areas, highlighting the persistent threat to local wildlife and the importance of enforcement.
According to court reports, Barnes, a father of four, was subjected to an 18-month ban on keeping dogs after the RSPCA uncovered the extent of the injuries inflicted on his two Patterdale terriers, Ronnie and Striker. The injuries were so severe that one dog had a deformed and twisted jaw, with missing lips and gums, injuries that Barnes had attempted to treat himself at home rather than seeking professional veterinary care. The injuries were inflicted during the dogs' participation in fox hunting, specifically when they were sent down fox holes to pursue foxes.
During the court proceedings, a photograph was presented showing Barnes standing with his dogs, proudly holding up a dead fox, which underscored the context of their use in hunting activities. Prosecutor Harry Bowyer emphasized the neglect involved, stating, “These dogs should have been taken to the vet, whether what you were doing was lawful or not, a duty you shirked.” Barnes responded to this accusation by claiming, “I would never ever see any dog suffer.”
Defense lawyer Stephen Welford argued that Barnes was capable of caring for his dogs and had medications at his home. He pointed out that the RSPCA had seized 13 dogs during a raid on Barnes’ property but had returned seven of them, indicating that his general husbandry was still adequate. Welford also suggested that Barnes, who had worked with terriers for many years, had become somewhat immune to the injuries he observed during his work, which might have dulled his perception of their severity.
Veterinary expert Stephen Lomax, representing the defense, challenged the RSPCA’s claim that one injury was “more severe than having your chin ripped off,” asserting that the injuries did not threaten the dogs’ lives and should not be regarded as life-threatening. Despite this, Barnes was found guilty of two charges of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to seek veterinary treatment for his dogs between February and April 2014. He was acquitted of two other charges.
District Judge Tim Spruce highlighted the severity of the injuries, noting that the facial wounds, including deformed jaws, missing lips, and gums, would have caused significant pain and required substantial pain relief and medical intervention. The judge condemned Barnes for neglecting his duty of care, stating, “You failed to get appropriate treatment. There was significant pain and suffering. You failed to provide a proper and timely response.”
In addition to the animal cruelty conviction, Barnes revealed plans to establish a pest control business using terriers to manage vermin at a poultry farm and a pheasant shoot, where traditional methods like poison or guns were deemed unsuitable.
As part of his sentence, Barnes received a 12-week prison term, suspended for one year, along with 80 hours of unpaid community service. He was also banned from keeping dogs for 18 months, a ban that expired early in 2018.
Further troubling revelations emerged from social media screenshots from late 2019, which exposed Barnes’ apparent bloodlust and sadistic tendencies, including content from his Facebook account.
In October 2022, Barnes appeared in court again, this time in Wrexham, after being caught digging at an active badger sett. He was accompanied by Ben Lloyd Davies, born circa 1989, of Cwm Mawr in Belan, Welshpool SY1 8SQ. Both men were found guilty of interfering with badger setts at a farm near Maelor Wood in August 2021.
Prosecutor Jon Tarrant, representing the RSPCA, explained that police responded to reports of two men digging into a suspected badger sett. Upon arrival, officers confirmed with the landowner that he had permitted a hunt on his land the following day but had not authorized any activity that day. The police then located Barnes and Davies at the site, where they observed a large hole and a locator collar on a pile of soil. Barnes was seen lying on his stomach, reaching into the hole, with Davies crouched nearby.
When questioned, Barnes claimed they were rescuing a dog that had been put down after a fox encounter and had been lost. He later showed officers a muddy, shaken dog with a cut on its nose, which appeared to be a bite. The police found evidence of a badger sett at the site, including fresh bedding, trails, and a latrine, indicating recent activity. Barnes admitted they had been digging for about two hours before police intervention and that they intended to continue if not stopped.
The court heard that Barnes was employed by the Wynnstay Hunt and had been asked to locate a rogue fox ahead of the next day’s hunt. Both men accepted their actions but argued they believed they had legal authority under hunting legislation exemptions, which was not the case. The court noted that Barnes had a relevant conviction for causing suffering to an animal, specifically the untreated facial injuries of his dogs, which cast doubt on his credibility.
Both defendants, described as “hard-working family men,” accepted that they were wrong and that the sett showed signs of current use, although they did not damage the entrances or prevent the badgers from using the sett. The court concluded that their actions were reckless but did not cause lasting damage to the badger population.
For their offenses, Barnes and Davies were each fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a total of £700 in costs and surcharges. The court’s decisions reflect ongoing concerns about illegal hunting and wildlife persecution in the Nottingham and Wrexham areas, highlighting the persistent threat to local wildlife and the importance of enforcement.