Court 'appalled' over Tonypandy badger digging attacks

A man has been given a suspended jail sentence for badger digging with dogs, which "appalled" magistrates.

Christian Latcham, of Tonypandy, was told it was "unspeakable cruelty" after admitting eight charges under animal welfare and badger protection laws at Rhondda magistrates.

He was given a five-month sentence suspended for a year and was banned from owning dogs indefinitely.

He was caught after police found images on his mobile phone.

Latcham was also told to do 250 hours community work.

Chair of the magistrates, Mike Hanley said: "We are appalled at the evidence presented in court. These are deliberate acts."

He called it "premeditated violence of unspeakable cruelty to animals."

Latcham was also ordered to make a £1,000 donation to the RSPCA.

He had been caught after being stopped by police at a petrol garage and spotted trying to conceal a mobile phone.

Images found on the found of the badger digging were passed to the RSPCA, giving them the evidence to prosecute.

Speaking after the court hearing, RSPCA inspector for the Rhondda and Pontypridd Simon Evans, who investigated the case, said Latcham was sentenced for badger digging rather than badger-baiting.

'Small but significant number'

He said badger digging meant the animals were killed where they lived, but baiting meant badgers were caught and taken to a location where a dog was introduced.

Mr Evans said: "I'm pleased he has been prevented from keeping or owning dogs for an indefinite period, but for such a serious offence a prison sentence would have made a statement.

"But a suspended sentence does show the level of cruelty of this offence and the magistrates' took the case very seriously - they were appalled."

Mr Evans said badger-baiting and digging was a major problem not just in the Rhondda, but in all of the south Wales valleys.

"There is a small but significant number of people who all know each other. They can team up and travel to specific locations where they know there are badgers," he said.

Mr Evans said these people used dogs to attack badgers for their own personal gratification.

"We rely 100% on calls from the public to control this problem," he added.