Alloa man trained dogs to kill cats and badgers

The SSPCA said the case involved some of the worst cruelty it had encountered

A man who trained dogs for fights and filmed them killing pet cats and wild badgers has been jailed for 10 months and banned from keeping animals for life.

John Dysart was told by a sheriff he had shown "significant cruelty towards defenceless and protected animals" for his own "senseless gratification".

Dysart, 31, was caught after he videoed two of his dogs mauling a cat to death in an Alloa street.

A court heard that when the video went viral in the Clackmannanshire area in September 2023, a helpline run by the Scottish SPCA was inundated with calls about it.

The SSPCA said the case represented "some of the worst, most deliberate cruelty" it had encountered.

A spokesperson added: "Not only were wild and domestic animals targeted and killed in horrific circumstances, but these acts were recorded and shared for gratification.

"We welcome the court's decision and hope it sends a strong message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Scotland."

Alloa Sheriff Court was told that the footage so sickened a dog-owning associate of Dysart that he later became a witness against him.

Prosecutor Karon Rollo told the court the video showed a cat being attacked on the pavement of a residential street by two lurchers.

The incident, which happened in darkness, was illuminated by the light of a mobile phone recording it.

'Illegal medicine'

The SSPCA was told in March 2024 that Dysart and an associate were going out with three dogs to kill badgers and cats, and filming the fights on their phones.

Police and SSPCA officers raided the homes of Dysart and his associate, who was not charged.

A black female lurcher was found in an upstairs bedroom together with a collar covered in badger DNA.

Illegal veterinary medicine and syringes used to treat dogs hurt in animal fights was found Dysart's fridge.

Ms Rollo said the drug was used by individuals involved in animal fighting, but "commonly" did not take their dogs to vets for treatment as dog-fighting injuries were "easily identified".

A mobile phone was found showing five videos of cats and badgers being attacked by dogs.

'Significant cruelty'

Dysart admitted keeping or training three lurchers for animal fights and causing unnecessary suffering by setting his dogs on cats.

He also admitted making videos of the crimes and sharing them online, setting dogs on a badger, and owning equipment designed or adapted for use at animal fights.

The offences were committed between February 2022 and March 2024.

Solicitor Mary-Ellen Scobbie, defending, said: "He apologises for his actions.

"He advises that he used to hunt rabbits and when he was out the dogs would sometimes go for other animals.

"He acknowledges he should have kept his dogs under better control."

Sheriff Neil Bowie told Dysart: "This was very significant cruelty towards defenceless and protected animals, apparently for your senseless gratification.

"This was further aggravated by you publishing video recordings of the offending – some of it in itself caused further distress to those who viewed it."