A CHARITY has vowed to continue its efforts to combat illegal 'blood sport' after two Carlisle brothers were convicted of badger baiting.

Dale Rickerby, 28, and Michael James Rickerby, 32, had denied wilfully killing a badger during a gory incident in the Aglionby area, near Carlisle, on October 15 last year but they were convicted after an all-day trial.

A dog that was used in the horrific incident – a bull lurcher called Bronson – was seriously injured but is expected to make a full recovery.

During an all-day trial at the city’s Rickergate court, RSPCA prosecutor Steven Marsh described how police identified the brothers after a badger was killed in the Holme Lane area of Aglionby.

Dale Rickerby claimed he and his brother were in the area legally hunting for rabbits when they happened to see the badger, which then attacked their bull lurcher.

He claimed that his hit the badger with a shovel to protect his dog.

But the trial heard from witnesses which supported the prosecution case that the men were involved in 'digging out' the badger from the sett where it was living. Both men were convicted of illegally and wilfully killing the animal.

Dale Rickerby was also convicted of two additional offences, committed on the same day and in the same place.

The first of these was causing 'unnecessary suffering' to a protected animal, namely the bull lurcher type dog called Bronson by setting it on to the badger; while the second offence was failing to ensure the welfare of the dog.

He did this, the court heard, by failing to take reasonable steps to protect the dog from pain, suffering and injury in its encounters with other animals.

'It’s a blood sport – medieval and barbaric'

Commenting after the guilty verdicts, RSPCA inspector Ian Muttitt, from the charity’s northern Special Operations Unit, said both the dog and the badger will have suffered horrifically during the incident.

“The dog was significantly injured; basically, the skin from the bottom of its jaw was ripped off,” said Inspector Muttitt.

“But police spotted the two males in the car quickly and luckily the dog was taken to the vets straight away and treated. It’s made a full recovery. But often they don’t receive veterinary treatment.”

Referring to the defendants’ claim that they were involved in a chance encounter with the badger, the Inspector said badgers naturally try to avoid such confrontations unless cornered.

Commenting generally about the issue, he said: “I work in the RSPCA Special Operations Unit on this type of issue and organised animal cruelty is a core area of our investigations.

“Badger baiting is a part of that.

“We have seen a prolific amount of it around the country – and particularly in Cumbria.

"There’s a large following of individuals using dogs to hunt wild animals and badgers are seen as the ‘ultimate test’ in the UK for hunters.

“It’s very much seen as a ‘sport’ by those involved in it. From our perspective, our unit is tireless in its efforts to bring to justice anybody involved in this type of activity. It’s been against the law for a long time.

“We will always investigate wherever we can. It’s a blood sport – medieval and barbaric.”

He thanked Cumbria Police and the civilian witnesses who supported the prosecution.

The two Rickerby brothers, of Warnell Drive, Harraby, will be sentenced on December 15 after background reports have been prepared. Both were granted unconditional bail.