A cruel gamekeeper who used his dogs for fights and sent sick pictures of people posed with dead animals has been jailed for eight months. Rhys Davies, 28, was also handed a 15-year ban on owning or keeping animals after he was convicted at Forfar Sheriff Court in Scotland on Monday.
Davies, who was living in Wales before he was jailed, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to four dogs under his care and keeping or training dogs for the purposes of animal fights. Animal welfare chiefs searched Turnabrae house on Millden Estate in Angus in October 2019, where Davies worked as a gamekeeper at the time.
The Scottish SPCA received a tip-off that Davies was heavily involved in using his dogs to fight and bait wild animals. Davies sent more than 50 pictures featuring severely injured dogs and individuals posing with dead animals to be printed in May 2019.
A member of staff at the company flagged these to the Scottish SPCA. Investigators found 11 dogs were being kept in kennels and an outbuilding at the property
A vet in attendance confirmed some of the dogs had fresh and historic injuries and disfigurement likely caused by fighting wild animals such as badgers and foxes. A collar inside the property tested positive for badger DNA.
Patterdale terrier Lola had fresh injuries to her mouth and lower jaw, while another Patterdale, Pip, had older scars across her muzzle, face and chest. There was also evidence to suggest Davies’ had attempted to treat injuries himself, after syringes, staplers and prescription-only medication for animals were found.
Analysis of Davies’ phone found messages where he discussed both the fights he was involved in and the attempts to treat the injuries his dogs had sustained from these.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “All of the hallmarks of a person involved in animal fighting can be found in this case. This includes attempting to treat serious injuries without a vet, bragging to others about those injuries and trying to get ‘trophies’ such as photos as keepsakes of those fights.
“Our special investigations unit lead the way when it comes to taking on these organised, brutal groups involved in animal fights. This was an incredibly sophisticated investigation which made it plain as day the accused was guilty and helped to uncover a wider network of individuals involved in heinous animal fights.
“A custodial sentence sends a real message to anyone who wants to use dogs to bait and maim wildlife that they will be punished for it. Wildlife persecution is a scourge.
“No animal deserves to be subjected to any pain or suffering, let alone at the level Mr Davies subjected his own dogs and wild animals to. Today, Mr Davies has found that animal abuse is unacceptable and comes with major consequences.”
Karon Rollo, Head of the Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit of Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “Animal fighting is a cruel illegal activity which causes terrible and unnecessary suffering to animals. The evidence clearly shows the scope of the involvement Rhys Davies had with an organised group that took pleasure in killing wild animals in such a wicked and inhumane manner.
“I welcome the sentence and the granting of the order preventing him from keeping animals for 15 years. I would like to thank Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA for their part in investigating and gathering evidence of these offences.
“Hopefully this prosecution and the sentence will serve as a message to others who would cause such suffering that there are consequences and that they will be held to account for their actions and could also lose their liberty. COPFS will continue to work to ensure those who participate in these barbaric practices are prosecuted and would encourage anyone who may have information on animal fighting to contact Police Scotland or the Scottish SPCA."
