A MAN convicted of badger baiting has been subjected to a series of threats and is believed to be a major target of animal rights activists.
Police are investigating after William Anderson, 26, from Pickering, claimed he was being harassed upon his release from prison after serving just one month of his 16-week jail sentence.
It is thought he has been blacklisted, along with other gang members who were convicted for the offence, on a string of websites run by animal rights groups.
Malton Police Sergeant Paul Stephenson, who had a pivotal role in bringing the gang to justice, told the Yorkshire Post: “After the case Anderson ended up getting threats from various people and various groups as a result. I would imagine they will all be getting aggravation.
“I know that Anderson and his family have been getting strange cars parked outside their house and have been getting things, like excrement, through the post. It’s more intimidation than anything else. I also understand that the men’s names have appeared on a target list on animal rights websites.
“They are not getting police protection and there is no protection planned, we are just looking into each incident that has been reported to us. It doesn’t matter what people have done, everybody deserves to have their individual case heard. We will deal with each one to the best of our ability. It is often not just the people who have appeared in court who are affected, but their families too.”
Anderson was jailed at the beginning of January, along with three other men, for a barbaric attack which saw badgers mauled to death by a pack of dogs.
Describing it as is the worst case of badger cruelty he had seen in 20 years, Scarborough RSPCA inspector Geoff Edmond hailed it as a “landmark case” which was brought about after wildlife artist and photographer Robert Fuller stumbled across the scene after hearing the animals’ screams.
Alan Alexander, 32; Richard Simpson, 37; and Paul Tindall, 31, from York; and Anderson were all handed 16-week jail sentences for their parts in the savage act at Howsham, near Malton, on January 30 last year.
Christopher Holmes and Malcolm Warner, both 28, from York, admitted the offences at an earlier hearing and escaped with 12-week suspended prison sentences. They were ordered to complete 200 hours of community service. All six were each ordered to pay £750 costs and £100 compensation. A 17-year-old boy was made the subject of a youth rehabilitation order.
On January 10, Scarborough magistrates heard how a Bedlington Terrier had been fitted with a tracer and sent into a badger sett to find the animals. Once it discovered a badger, a receiver above ground told the men the location of the animals and they dug a hole to remove them. One badger, which was heavily pregnant, was attacked by around 13 lurchers, causing it to be “torn to pieces” until it bled to death. A second had been shot after a severe attack by the pack of dogs. One was thrown back into the badger sett while another was found in undergrowth.
The men have since been released from jail and are currently being monitored by tagging devices.
Mr Fuller, from Thixendale, near Malton, who secretly photographed the bait after contacting the police and keeping them informed of the location, said the gang’s early release made a “mockery” of the offence.
“It was quite a big case and to then let them out after just one month makes a mockery of the whole thing,” said Mr Fuller, who has stepped-up security at his home amid fears he will be targeted by the men.
“The abuse was probably quite inevitable as it was such a cruel case. It’s a funny turn of events that the criminals, who have been extremely cocky with the police, are now wanting their help.”
Cruel bullies do usually turn out to be great big babies dont they.
Anderson was the one who shot the female badger in the head. Photos were taken of gun smoke rising from the badger’s shattered brain. The badger had been ripped to pieces, put up a vailant fight against two Bull Cross Lurchers, but the outcome was inevitable whilst 8 men stood around laughing and watching. Anderson, the blubbing coward should man up, he was okay allowing the torture of a defenceless animal, one heavily pregnant, but now it’s his turn (allegedly), he runs off weeping to the police for protection. WHAT PROTECTION DID THOSE BADGERS HAVE FROM YOUR 12 BORE AND YOUR BULL CROSSES EH WILL???
PS:his wife runs a boarding kennel for pets ensuring the utmost care and attention?? Great advert there Mrs Anderson, having a convicted badger baiter for a husband !! the mind boggles !!
Oh those poor Badgers, especially the poor darling pregnant one. My heart goes out to them.
These cold blooded MURDERERS are violent maniacs, and should be locked up. If they can do this cowardly act to a little defenceless animal, then their vile brains are capable of violence towards a human being…….. Throw the trash murderers in prison, where they can get sychiatric assessment for their damaged brains!!
Doesn’t this just show what a cowardly bunch of evil cretins these people are. Scared of animnal rights,????? come near me mate and you will really have something to be scared about. These people are a disgrace for what they did and should all have been in prison for a very long time, or maybe community service looking after the wild life under supervision of course. As for this mans wife and her boarding kennels this should be made public so people know what an evil man she has for a husband, I do not put any of my animals in kennels but if I did they would most ceetainly not go to this one, Anyone know the name of these kennels??????????????????????????????.
The addresses of all these vile badger baiters were published in the media and online. What did they expect. Choccies and roses sent to them? They served only 4 weeks !! Amazing how none of the 13 dogs were still owned by them when the case came to court. Will Anderson, the ruddy faced gun toting, 12 bore owner, has a 4 x 4 business, also widely publicised, known as “A SENSE OF ADVENTURE”. The wife, who maybe totally innocent in all this, although some of the other “BBAGS” (Badgerbaiters Betterhalves and Girlfriends) were in court, laughing and joking, reading Closer Magazines and popping in and out of the Court for fags! Anyway, in answer to your question… Helen Anderson runs the Boarding Kennels,
Helen Anderson Pet Boarding
Hillside Farm, Cropton Lane, Pickering, North Yorkshire, yo18 8hg
Tel: 01751473705
She probably is a caring human being and didn’t have a clue what old Will was up to. If that’s the case, I feel very sorry for her. I mean it’s not everyday that the man you married, father to your children, goes out and shoots a badger through the head, or is it?
Thanks for this Laura.
I doubt very much that she is inocent. How can she be married to a sick sycopath like him and not be aware of his violence to wildlife.
who are the cowards?possibly the ones that use words and excrement to threaten…..(and all but two dogs are still owned.the judge made no order to remove them so are still legally owned.) you people honestly have no idea and believe all the media hype and lies.yes,lies,several witnesses including police LIED in that case and in the dock under oath!
That’s quite an accusation you’re making Billy. I’ll just pass along your comments to the Police so you can argue about it with them then !
But you are missing the point entirely…this individual was convicted of a disgusting cruel act, yet only served a tiny tiny part of his time. Little wonder others are infuriated. Does’nt he need to man up a bit instead of whining about being threatened. How’s he think the animals felt being tortured to death. Think on and careful what you say.
it’s not an accusation,it’s fact and i would be more than willing to say that to the individuals that lied so feel free to pass my comments on.also one website(daily mail) even claims badger tongs were used and also that one badger had it’s legs broken…. not once at anytime during the trial were these two things ever mentioned by anyone! poetic license or just more lies?i’ll let you decide!
Me thinks Billy (that’s Badger Baiters’ slang for a badger) is one of the 7 convicted. Billy Aiter, ie Badger Hater, isn’t the most intelligent alias ever used. Now lets think about the dogs still owned.. Ah yes, Simpson’s live in girlfriend, one of the BBAGS(badgerbaiters betterhavles and girlfriends) in court, claimed they were her SHOW DOGS, that would be Charlie, the white Bull Cross with the ripped open face. Then Simpson’s half brother, Alan Alexander, the one who had the locator collar in his possession, but claimed it was for a “Ferret”, well he got shut of his Bull Cross, again with a ripped open face, then another dog got run over, whilst the clever one, James Doyle from Knottingley who got off scott free, was taking his wife’s dog for a walk. What a clever player he was. Hollywood and the Oscars beckons Mr. Doyle.
Word is new bull cross pups have already been bought and that comes from a close neighbour. Yes, you are being watched.
Now what about a SENSE of ADVENTURE, the company owned by Will, this sure was some 4 x 4 adventure that badger baiting Sunday in January with all your pals eh Will. Thought you were emigrating to Canda or New Zealand. Why not France? Badger Baiting is still legal there.
Wonder why no charges were made against Richard Simpson’s “Common” law wife when she purchased a 12 bore for her caring lover for his birthday using Will’s shotgun licence. Wonder why Mr. Simpson didn’t apply for a shot gun in his own right? Perhaps he wasn’t of sound mind and body to own a 12 bore…So many questions….
As for the lies in court, well someone heard Mr. Simpson state, whilst outside having a fag.. “Think we are F**ked.” Must have been a pleasure to see how they squirmed under cross examination. The invention of the 9th man and his dog in the elusive grey Diahatsu was pure comedy and sealed their fate. Showed them up to be the liars (bad ones at that) and vile, heartless monsters that they truly are.
Is it true Channel 4 are making a Documentary about the Howsham Badger Baiters? Fame beckons Billy Aiter, or should I say Will?
Slang for a badger used by the Baiters includes,…Billy, Pigs, Stripey’s, Newcastles and a few more…. easy to pick it up on Hunting Life Forum and Earth Dog/Running Dog, especially late at night…
not wishing to get drawn into an arguement as it won’t go anywhere or be of any benefit to anyone but….
the show dogs were the border terriers not the lurcher.
the shotgun was put on will’s ticket quite legally until r.simpson got his own ticket(which he did shortly afterwards)
the 9th man DID exist as the police officer who spent most of the morning looking for him would have told you IF he had been allowed to testify……
(oh and i am genuinely not will. although i also frequent THL and moochers…)
thank you to the admin for at least letting me half my say btw.