'Sadistic' man who filmed his dogs killing wild animals jailed

Daniel Taylor was jailed at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday

A "sadistic" man who filmed the brutal torture, mutilation and killing of dozens of wild animals has been jailed.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Daniel Taylor made shocking videos of his dogs ravaging deer, badgers, foxes and pigeons he had hunted.

Skulls, tails, antlers and decomposing heads were found at his property during a search by police.

The 32-year-old, from Nottinghamshire, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on Thursday.

Warning - this article contains distressing content.

Taylor, of Shrewsbury Road, Worksop, was found with more than 140 distressing images and 84 videos of him encouraging his dogs to kill between August 2021 and February 2023.

Deer skulls, which Taylor kept as "trophies", were found at his home

Some of the animals could be heard screaming in pain, the court heard.

Prosecuting, Jon Fountain said that in one video, which shows a dog gripping a fox in its jaws, Taylor could be heard swearing at the animals and shouting: "That's why I love him [the dog]; finish him buddy boy. Good lad; kill him!"

In another video, he said: "Only been out for two nights, looks like a morgue!"

PC Mark Holland, who was among the officers who carried out the search of Taylor's home, said it was "some of the most distressing and vile" footage he had seen, according to Mr Fountain.

Many of the videos were filmed around Clumber, Thoresby and Welbeck estates in the county.

Mr Fountain told the court that attached to Taylor's property was a makeshift and "unhygienic" butchers' workshop, equipped with a hoist, hooks and a trough, the court heard.

Snares used to trap animals were among the items found at the property

A police warrant at Taylor's address found a hoard of 15 deer skulls, 14 fox tails, two deer heads, two sets of antlers, and a bag of wire snares.

Lamping equipment and a blood-stained quad bike, which he used to catch the animals, was also recovered by police.

After being arrested, Taylor, who defended himself in court, initially claimed to officers that his only hunting consisted of rabbiting for food.

He later accepted what he had done when was shown the video evidence.

Mr Fountain told the court: "This was not hunting at all. Rather the defendant gaining pleasure from using his dogs to inflict the most horrendous suffering on wild animals."

Police also found antlers following a warrant at Taylor's address

Taylor had previously pleaded guilty to four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals after being arrested on 24 February last year.

He told the court he no longer took part in such activities.

He said: "I went out hunting and I took it a bit far. I'm here today to deal with the consequences. I don't do it no more."

Sentencing him, Judge Mark Watson said Taylor "revelled in the suffering" of the animals and called his behaviour "sadistic".

He also disqualified Taylor from owning, keeping or controlling dogs for life, while his dogs and quad bike were also permanently seized from him.