Two men from Wales have been jailed for their part in a string of wildlife offences which included three in the Forest of Dean.

Ryan Harrison, 24, of Masefield Road, Caldicot, pleaded guilty to a total of 15 offences and Thomas Young, 26, of East Pentwyn, Blaina, pleaded guilty to six offences when they appeared at Merthyr Magistrates’ Court last on Friday, June 21st.

They admitted that in the Forest of Dean in March, 2019 they did wilfully kill, injure or take a badger (Protection of Badgers Act 1992), attempt to take or kill a deer (Deer Act 1991) and cause unnecessary suffering to a boar by allowing it to be attacked by dogs and then stabbed it with a knife.

The offences were uncovered as part of a BBC Wales documentary (The Secret World of Badger Baiting, May, 2018) and investigated by the RSPCA.

Wildlife officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary were involved in the investigation, which included viewing horrific footage, executing warrants and the seizure of dogs from the men.

A third man, 31-year-old Cyle Jones, of Newgate Street, Brecon, pleaded guilty to two animal welfare charges involving his dogs.

Harrison was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison, given a lifetime ban on keeping dogs and banned from driving for two years.

Young was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, given a lifetime ban on keeping dogs and banned from driving for two years.

Jones was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, given a lifetime ban on keeping dogs and banned from driving for two years.

PC Cath McDay, Rural and Wildlife Crime Officer for the Forest of Dean, said: "I am pleased that as a result of all our efforts three men are now in prison and unable to cause further suffering."