BIERLEY MAN JAILED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN BRUTAL BADGER BAITING GANG
A Bradford man, Peter Walker, 21, formerly residing on Shirley Road, was given a 26-week prison sentence after being found guilty of his involvement in a gang that engaged in badger baiting.During the court hearing at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court, Walker was observed on a six-minute video filming a group of dogs dragging two badgers from a sett and fighting with them.
He was heard laughing in the footage as animals were savaged.
Prosecutor Andrew Davidson described the case as "the most serious I have seen of deliberate animal cruelty." Walker was also heard to say that one of the badgers was "still putting up a fight" and that it was "still alive after ten minutes." Although he admitted being present at woodland in North Yorkshire where the offences took place, he claimed he did not actively participate, asserting that he was only filming the activity on his mobile phone and was not involved physically since he did not own a dog.
His defense argued that Walker, who has ADHD, did not learn to read or write well and was manipulated by friends into attending.
The court, however, found that he was involved and did nothing to stop the cruelty, including returning to the same area on a second occasion.
As a result, Walker received a six-month prison sentence, a requirement to stay away from animals for 12 months, and a lifetime animal ownership ban.
The judge emphasized that his presence and laughter in the video indicated culpability and disappointment with his lack of intervention.
