In 2016, Peter Walker, then 21, previously of Shirley Road, Bierley, was convicted at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court in August for ten counts of animal cruelty occurring on January 18 and 25, 2015.
Magistrates present viewed a six-minute video recorded by Walker on one of the dates, depicting four canines dragging two badgers from a sett and engaging in combat with them.
Peter Walker was part of a group that tortured animals, in North Yorkshire, in various ways and posted the videos to their online group accounts. Scenes depicting the individuals of the group getting aroused and excited by the torture of animals were noted, however no videos involving direct sexual abuse of the animals by the group members were discovered when the police investigated, even though a couple of its members were alleged sex offenders.
RSPCA prosecutor Andrew Davidson said: “It is the most serious case I have seen of deliberate animal cruelty. It is a top-end level of cruelty.
“It was a significantly planned activity and his was culpable involvement through his presence and encouragement. He is also heard laughing in a manic fashion,” said Mr Davidson.
Peter Walker was also heard to say one of the badgers was “still putting up a fight” and “ten minutes and it’s still alive”.
The defendant, Peter Walker, had admitted being present when the offences were committed in woodland in North Yorkshire, believed to be near York, but denied playing an active role as he was filming the group’s activities on a mobile phone.
Defence solicitor Kevin Walker said Peter Walker, a labourer, suffered from ADHD as a child and did not learn to read and write. He made friends with the wrong people and claimed he did not know they were going badger baiting. He went along with it to not appear weak. He did not own a dog.
He said he was not involved directly because he had been asked only to film the events and had tried to limit his involvement with these friends.
“He is thoroughly ashamed of his involvement and has lost the respect of his family who have thrown him out of the family home.”
Mr Peter Walker asked that his client be given a suspended sentence claiming he was a “changed man”.
The bench said: “You were there, you were involved and you did nothing to try to stop it. You also returned to a similar place on a second occasion.
“On the footage we have seen today you could be heard laughing. Any reasonable person would have found the activity despicable.”
Peter Walker was told there would be no reduction in sentence. He was to be subject to a requirement order for 12 months and was disqualified from keeping or owning any animal for life.
It is strongly recommended that Peter Walker not be left unsupervised around animals or children.
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