East Riding of Yorkshire: Men appear in court for wildlife offences

Five men are due to appear at Beverley Magistrates Court today (13 December) to answer charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Badger Act 1992.

Andrew Booth (44) and Kirk McGarry (50) both from Doncaster, John Horner (19) and George Horner (26) both from Bridlington and Richard Willey (46) from Hull will all appear at court today accused of digging into a badger sett at Melton in the East Riding of Yorkshire on 30 December 2017.

The law protects our wildlife

You could be sent to prison for up to 6 months and get an unlimited fine if you’re found guilty of any of these offences:

• intentionally capture, kill or injure a badger
• damage, destroy or block access to their setts
• disturb badgers in setts
• treat a badger cruelly
• deliberately send or intentionally allow a dog into a sett
• bait or dig for badgers

You’re breaking the law and could get an unlimited fine if you:

• have or sell a badger, or offer a live badger for sale
• have or possess a dead badger or parts of a badger (if you got it illegally)
• mark or attach a marking device to a badger