Home / Crime and Justice / Badger Hunter Jailed for Cruel Dog Attacks
Badger Hunter Jailed for Cruel Dog Attacks
21 Oct
Summary
- Man jailed for three years for animal cruelty offences.
- Dogs used in illegal badger hunting were severely injured.
- Puppies had tails docked, showing significant lack of care.
Lewis Wray, aged 38, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for multiple animal cruelty offenses. The court also imposed an indefinite ban on him owning animals. His associate, Jake McLay, aged 30, received a nine-month suspended sentence and a 12-year ban from owning animals, along with a requirement to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
The investigation, initiated by information from social media and the Naturewatch Foundation, uncovered disturbing evidence of illegal badger hunting. Police executing warrants in December 2024 and May 2025 found seven dogs with significant scarring and injuries, including docked tails on some puppies. This cruelty and neglect demonstrated a profound lack of empathy, as the perpetrators avoided veterinary treatment for fear of discovery.
