07 March 2024 , 12:11
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A vile thug who encouraged his dogs to tear a fox to death has been jailed after he was identified by his trainers.
RSPCA officers raided Dane Crawford's home in Lancaster and found mobile phones with images and films of wildlife being attacked by dogs. He was identified by his fluorescent Nike Air shoes seen in a video he filmed of a bloodthirsty attack inside a garage.
Crawford, 30, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the fox and failing to treat lurchers Major and Lassie, who suffered severe injuries in the grisly attack. The yob also admitted two further offences under the Animal Welfare Act of allowing the ears of two bullbreed dogs to be illegally cropped and was jailed for 30 months at Preston Crown Court.
RSPCA Inspector Will Lamping said: "An image was recovered showing Crawford in very distinctive trainers with one of his dogs, holding a dead fox. We could identify him within the video of the fox being attacked because of these trainers."
Crawford was ordered to pay £3,500 costs and was disqualified from keeping animals for life.
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His girlfriend Shelby Wallis, 23, who admitted four offences under the Animal Welfare Act, received a three-month jail term, suspended for 18 months and must complete 200 hours' unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £2,500 costs and was disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.
Crawford's dog Major (RSPCA/TriangleNews)
The two dogs attacking the fox in the distressing video (RSPCA/TriangleNews)A total of five dogs were removed from the couple's home and taken into RSPCA care. Judge Simon Medland, KC, jailing Crawford, said:" Your behaviour was criminal and utterly shocking."
Inspector Lamping added after the hearing: "This case sends a clear message to those who choose to engage in wildlife persecution and ear cropping that their cruel activities will not be tolerated. It took many hours to comb through the videos and pictures on the phones recovered, but this work uncovered the serious level of cruelty shown to both the wild animals - literally being thrown to the dogs - and to the puppies whose ears were being mutilated.
"The defendants' own dogs were used in these attacks and were left without vet treatment for serious injuries - including a fractured leg. Both have been handed lengthy bans on keeping animals and handed prison or suspended prison sentences for their treatment of animals."