Badger Killers Face Justice in Carmarthenshire Wildlife Case

Two men have been sentenced for shooting a badger dead, dragging its lifeless body down a hill and throwing it into a nearby bog following a joint investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team and RSPCA. 🦡⚖️

The RSPCA had been alerted to suspicious activity around an active badger sett on a grassy hillside in the Esgairdawe area of Carmarthenshire by a member of the rural community. The witness, looking through their camera with a telescopic lens, saw a group digging into a badger sett, before seeing a man drag a heavy animal down the hill and throwing it over a fence into a bog.

They also witnessed another man carrying a terrier with blood on its legs in one arm, and a shotgun in the other.

Sion Davis, 37, of Cwmbach, Talgarreg, had pleaded guilty to interfering with a badger sett, using a firearm to kill a badger and wilfully killing a badger at Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday, March 27. Alongside Davis at court, Gwynli Edwards, 51, of Lletem Ddu, Tregaron, pleaded guilty to interfering with a badger set and possession of a dead badger.

Both men were handed 16-month suspended sentences, with Davis being ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid community work. They were also ordered to pay costs totalling £4,960.

The court heard that after being alerted to the suspicious activity, RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben examined the site, gathered evidence from the scene and was shown the photographs taken by the witness.

Further examination of the deceased badger confirmed that it had been shot dead. This led officers to believe that the killing was in breach of the Badgers Act 1992 and a criminal investigation was launched.

The men were subject to a pre-planned simultaneous arrest on April 9, last year. Further property searches found a total of nine firearms, including the shotgun that was believed to have been used.

At one of the properties a quadbike seen by the witness was found, along with items related to terrier hunting, including dog radio collars, T-bars, nets, and shovels were found.

A statement from the RSPCA said: “This result is a testament to the strength of partnership between Dyfed-Powys Police and the RSCPA. This case reinforces the message that we will do all we can under the all-Wales partnership for rural and wildlife crime, to protect vulnerable wildlife within our force are, and pursue those that intend to bring them harm.”

Paul Roberts of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team said: “Today’s outcome shows that vicious and cruel behaviour against innocent and defenceless animals will simply not be tolerated. I want to commend the initial witness for their proactivity in contacting the RSCPA to report her concerns, which ultimately led to the two perpetrators facing justice for their crimes today. I’d also like to thank RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben for the critical role he played in this investigation. His initial actions at the scene, and gathering of key evidence early on were instrumental in securing this prosecution.”