Judge condemns viral “entertainment” clips of dogs attacking mammals — RSPCA warns of wider persecution risk in West Wales

A CAERPHILLY man has been jailed for 16 weeks after persecuting badgers in what a judge described as “deliberate and sadistic” acts of cruelty. Videos recovered from his phone showed mammals being stabbed, kicked, and mauled by dogs.

Lloyd Gary Robert Davies, of Bryn Heol, Bedwas, was also banned from keeping animals for life after pleading guilty to offences under both the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Newport Magistrates’ Court heard how Davies set lurchers on badgers, filmed the attacks, and shared them. In one recovered video, a man’s hand plunged a knife into an injured badger after it was kicked and savaged by dogs. Davies also used his female lurcher, Shirley, in multiple illegal hunts, exposing her to serious injury and lending her out for the same purpose.

District Judge Sophie Toms described the cruelty as “absolutely disgusting,” saying: “This was deliberate and sadistic cruelty, filmed and shared for entertainment — one of the most serious cases of cruelty I’ve had to deal with in all my time.” She added that she would have preferred to impose a longer sentence, “but regrettably my hands are somewhat tied.”

In addition to the prison term, Davies was ordered to pay £400 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge. The prosecution followed analysis of a mobile phone seized from him, which contained 13 videos showing lurchers attacking “vocalising, bloodied” badgers, with onlookers encouraging them to continue.

In mitigation, Davies’ defence pointed out his youth — he was 22 when many offences occurred — and said he suffered from ADHD and autism. The court heard he “fell in with a bad crowd,” loved his dog Shirley, and was “deeply remorseful.” He has since signed over Shirley to the RSPCA, who rehabilitated her and found her a new home elsewhere in the UK.

An RSPCA Special Operations Unit spokesperson said:
“This case shows how people who persecute wildlife for pleasure will not be tolerated. We will investigate them and bring them to justice.”

The RSPCA worked in partnership with Gwent Police and Natural Resources Wales on the case. PC Rhys Jones of Gwent Police said:
“This case highlights the importance of our link with the RSPCA to ensure that offenders like Davies do not get away with these cruel acts.”

David Griffiths of Natural Resources Wales added:
“Badgers and their setts are safeguarded by law — any harm to them without a valid licence is a criminal offence. This prosecution sends a strong message that such appalling acts will not be tolerated.”

Badger persecution in West Wales

While this latest case was prosecuted in Gwent, the RSPCA says badger baiting and sett interference continue to pose a risk across Wales — including Pembrokeshire and neighbouring counties.

In April 2025, two men from Ceredigion were sentenced after shooting a badger dead, dragging its body down a hill, and throwing it into a bog near Esgairdawe, Carmarthenshire. The same case involved illegal interference with a badger sett, possession of firearms, and the use of dogs to hunt badgers.

A 2018 undercover BBC investigation exposed a network of badger baiters operating across Wales — including in Pembrokeshire — where men were filmed digging into setts and setting dogs on badgers, sometimes killing them with spades.

And in 2006–07, a major prosecution linked to Boncath uncovered evidence of badger baiting after a badger was found in a lurcher’s mouth near a dug sett, with bloodstained shovels nearby. Two men from Ceredigion were later convicted at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

Although most prosecutions are handled in neighbouring counties, these cases show that Pembrokeshire is not immune to wildlife persecution — and that illegal badger baiting remains a live concern across West Wales.