Animal fight dog trainer is jailed for 7 months

‘Horrific injuries’

A MAN has been jailed for training dogs for ‘wicked and inhumane’ animal fights.

Rhys Davies, 28, was part of an organised group which used dogs for baiting badgers and foxes and took pictures showing the animals’ sickening injuries.

But the former gamekeeper at the Millden Estate near Glen Esk, Angus, was brought to justice after ordering 58 photo prints for what was described as a ‘digging album’ in 2019. According to an animal charity website, ‘badger digging’ is the process carried out to find and kill the animals.

A staff member at the photo firm tipped off the SSPCA.

Officers from its special investigations unit and Police Scotland raided his home and found dogs with horrific injuries which he had made crude efforts to treat rather than calling a vet. Yesterday Davies, who now lives in Gwynedd, North Wales, was jailed for 30 weeks at Forfar Sheriff Court and banned from keeping animals for 15 years.

He had admitted keeping five dogs for animal fighting and to causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs by failing to provide veterinary treatment.

He was also fined £1,800 for breaching his firearms licence by keeping unsecured firearms and ammunition at his home.

After Davies admitted his crimes at an earlier hearing, a Millden Estate spokesman said it ‘does not condone or tolerate any illegal activity relating to the welfare of animals or wildlife’. He added: ‘The employee involved was suspended by the estate with immediate effect and resigned a few days later.’