Devon men charged with training dogs to fight and kill foxes, badgers and deer
By Western Morning News | September 11, 2015
A group of men have appeared in court charged with training dogs to fight and kill wild animals including foxes, badgers and deer.
The defendants faced numerous cruelty charges – many relating to fights with their dogs that had caused unnecessary suffering to several protected species.
The five men spoke only to confirm their names as the allegations brought against them by the RSPCA were read out at Torquay Magistrates Court.
None of them entered any pleas and the case was adjourned until next month.
Graham Coombes, 40, of Bovey Tracey, was charged with nine offences relating to training dogs for use in animal fighting against section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
He was also accused of three counts of intentionally killing a deer, two of killing a badger, and three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals involving a fox, a pig and a badger.
Ryan Robinson, 19, of Chudleigh, faced six offences relating to animal fighting involving dogs and wild animals, which included intentionally killing a deer.
Daniel Ravenscroft, 36, of Buckfast, faced two animal fighting offences and one offence in conjunction with Graham Coombes of killing a deer.
Gethyn Durham, 26, of Cwmbran, Wales, faced six charges including four of training dogs for use in animal fighting. He also faced a charge of killing a deer and being in possession of a dangerous dog.
John Bellamy, 31, of Chudleigh, also faced two charges relating to animal fighting with trained dogs and another of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by not providing essential veterinary care after one had suffered an injury to its tail.
No further details of the alleged offences were heard by magistrates.
The case adjourned until October 30 when they will reappear at Torquay Magistrates court.
Gethyn Durham at the Torquay Magistrates Court in Devon. 11/09/2015 See SWNS story SWDOGS: Five men are scheduled to appear at Torquay Magistrates Court to face numerous allegations connected to the use of dogs to fight wild animals. Graham Coombes of Abbey Road, Bovey Tracey in Newton Abbot will appear in connection with 14 offences relating to training dogs for use in animal fighting against section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The defendant is also accused of intentionally killing a deer contrary to the Deer Act 1991, killing a badger, contrary to section 1 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, and causing a fox to suffer unnecessarily by confining it and encouraging dogs to terrorise it, contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Ryan Robinson of Foundry Court, Chudleigh, is scheduled to appear in relation to six offences relating to animal fighting involving dogs and wild animals, including intentionally killing deer, contrary to section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and sections 1 and 3 of the Deer Act 1991. Gethyn Durham of Marl Court in Cwmbran is scheduled to appear in relation to four animal welfare and animal fighting alleged offences committed against sections 8 and 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including training a number of dogs for use in animal fighting. One offence is in connection with Graham Coombes.
Graham Coombes at the Torquay Magistrates Court in Devon. 11/09/2015 See SWNS story SWDOGS: Five men are scheduled to appear at Torquay Magistrates Court to face numerous allegations connected to the use of dogs to fight wild animals. Graham Coombes of Abbey Road, Bovey Tracey in Newton Abbot will appear in connection with 14 offences relating to training dogs for use in animal fighting against section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The defendant is also accused of intentionally killing a deer contrary to the Deer Act 1991, killing a badger, contrary to section 1 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, and causing a fox to suffer unnecessarily by confining it and encouraging dogs to terrorise it, contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Ryan Robinson of Foundry Court, Chudleigh, is scheduled to appear in relation to six offences relating to animal fighting involving dogs and wild animals, including intentionally killing deer, contrary to section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and sections 1 and 3 of the Deer Act 1991. Gethyn Durham of Marl Court in Cwmbran is scheduled to appear in relation to four animal welfare and animal fighting alleged offences committed against sections 8 and 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including training a number of dogs for use in animal fighting. One offence is in connection with Graham Coombes.
John Bellamy at the Torquay Magistrates Court in Devon. 11/09/2015 See SWNS story SWDOGS: Five men are scheduled to appear at Torquay Magistrates Court to face numerous allegations connected to the use of dogs to fight wild animals. Graham Coombes of Abbey Road, Bovey Tracey in Newton Abbot will appear in connection with 14 offences relating to training dogs for use in animal fighting against section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The defendant is also accused of intentionally killing a deer contrary to the Deer Act 1991, killing a badger, contrary to section 1 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, and causing a fox to suffer unnecessarily by confining it and encouraging dogs to terrorise it, contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Ryan Robinson of Foundry Court, Chudleigh, is scheduled to appear in relation to six offences relating to animal fighting involving dogs and wild animals, including intentionally killing deer, contrary to section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and sections 1 and 3 of the Deer Act 1991. Gethyn Durham of Marl Court in Cwmbran is scheduled to appear in relation to four animal welfare and animal fighting alleged offences committed against sections 8 and 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including training a number of dogs for use in animal fighting. One offence is in connection with Graham Coombes.
