STUART RADBOURNE AND BEN PETHERS INVOLVED IN BADGER SET INTERFERENCE IN TROWBRIDGE

In a serious wildlife crime case that has garnered significant attention, Stuart Radbourne and Ben Pethers, both associated with the Avon Vale Hunt, were found guilty of interfering with a badger sett near Trowbridge. The incident took place in the area of Stockley Hollow, close to Calne, Wiltshire, and has raised concerns about illegal hunting practices and the treatment of protected wildlife species.

Radbourne, born April 1984 and residing at The Common, Chippenham SN15 2JJ, along with Pethers, born circa 1984 and living at Hoopers Pool, Southwick, Trowbridge BA14 9NG, admitted to their involvement in the illegal disturbance of a badger sett. The case was brought to light after they were caught in the act of digging frantically at a badger burrow, claiming they were searching for a lost terrier named Jimmy. The pair insisted that their actions were motivated by concern for their dog, which had gone missing during a hunt.

The incident occurred on March 6, 2012, when the five men, including Radbourne and Pethers, were out hunting. They received information that their dogs had marked a fox in a nearby field. Radbourne and Pethers, riding on a quad bike, arrived at the scene first and began assessing the situation. During their search, they released a terrier named Jimmy, who then ran off and disappeared underground. The huntsmen tracked the dog to a badger sett after hearing barking from below ground.

Attempts to retrieve Jimmy involved using a location collar, which failed, prompting the men to begin digging into the ground to free him. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the men digging furiously, soil flying as they worked. An onlooker observed Radbourne waist-deep in the sett, actively digging. The police and RSPCA officials arrived at the scene, where they found extensive damage to the badger sett. The entrances had been blocked or filled in, with a total of 15 entrances identified, 11 of which had been obstructed.

Inspector Ian Burns of the RSPCA described the scene as the worst he had encountered in his 25 years of wildlife inspection. The injured terrier, suffering deep cuts and puncture wounds to its neck and face, was eventually rescued after being trapped for approximately two hours. The dog was taken to a veterinarian, who confirmed injuries consistent with an attack by claws and teeth from an animal underground.

Initially, charges were brought against all five men for breaching the Hunting Act, but the RSPCA later dropped the hunting-related charges after Radbourne and Pethers pleaded guilty to interfering with a badger sett. The other three men—Jonathan Seed, Paul Tylee-Hinder, and Josh Charlesworth—denied any wrongdoing.

Defense attorneys argued that Radbourne took full responsibility, emphasizing his concern for the terrier and acknowledging that he was up to his waist in the sett. Radbourne’s lawyer, Clive Rees, stated, “It was certainly a badger sett and it was accepted that he had been the one who was up to his waist in it and he took full responsibility for that. But it was out of concern for the terrier.”

Similarly, Janet Gedrych, representing Pethers, admitted that his client’s actions were reckless but insisted there was no malicious intent. She explained, “He accepts that he was digging in an effort to find his dog, he didn’t intentionally set out to damage the sett but he acted recklessly to find his lost dog.”

District Judge Cooper sentenced Radbourne and Pethers to a £300 fine each, along with £250 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge. The judge highlighted that the primary issue was the failure to control the dog, Jimmy, which escaped and caused the damage. The inspector, Ian Burns, emphasized the severity of the damage, describing the hole as the deepest he had seen in his career, and reaffirmed the importance of prosecuting such cases to protect wildlife.

In addition to the criminal proceedings, recent developments have linked Radbourne to a broader controversy involving the Avon Vale Hunt. On February 10, 2023, a video surfaced online showing Radbourne and other hunt members pulling a fox out of its den, with cheers and laughter heard as hounds pursued the animals. This footage prompted the British Hounds Sports Association (BHSA) to suspend the Avon Vale Hunt pending an investigation. The BHSA indicated that the evidence suggested serious breaches of their core principles, and there was a possibility of permanent expulsion, which could effectively disband the hunt.

The incident in Trowbridge and the subsequent investigations underscore ongoing concerns about illegal hunting and wildlife protection in the region, with authorities and wildlife advocates calling for stricter enforcement and accountability.