9th July 2026
Warning: Distressing content
A man from Stourbridge has been jailed after encouraging his dog Rocco to attack badgers resulting in suffering.
Daniel Lea, of Belbroughton Road, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment and handed a 10 year ban on keeping animals, at Wolverhampton Crown Court, on July 3, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
RSPCA SOU Inspector Mike Scargill described finding a series of videos taken on Lea’s phone, including footage of the defendant “giving encouragement” to Rocco to attack a badger on several different occasions, and the defendant digging to find badgers and damaging a badger sett.
Rocco was taken to a vet for examination, where an expert witness vet described finding wounds over Rocco’s face, including around the corners of his lips, as well as wounds and swellings on back of his chest, and “extensive” scarring and wounds over his face, as well as multiple scabs over his body.
The vet reported that “these injuries and scarring are consistent with those resulting from animal bites [and] fighting, the scarring and injuries around the face and lower jaw are typical in appearance of injuries seen as a result of badgers.”
She concluded that: “These episodes are likely to have occurred over a number of different occasions due to different stages of healing and the amount of scarring.
“Rocco will have experienced suffering due to moderate-severe pain as a result of the healing injuries over his face and back, but also at the time of occurrence and for the period of healing of the previous injuries.
“Any failures by the owner to seek veterinary treatment following this type of injury would result in unnecessary suffering due to pain for a minimum of five days, but in reality likely longer depending on the severity of the injury and if complications such as infection result due to lack of appropriate veterinary treatment.”
Rocco was seized by the police under the Animal Welfare Act, and is currently in the care of the RSPCA.
During sentencing, the judge remarked that “all summary matters are so serious that only custody will do.”
In mitigation, the court heard that the defendant carried out the offences at the behest of a farmer, as well as the fact that he lives alone and has shared parenting of two children, as well as an older son.
Following the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Mike Scargill said: “The impact on both wildlife and dogs in this case is extremely upsetting.
“All animals deserve to be treated with kindness, compassion and respect, and we hope this result serves as a warning that such cruelty towards animals is not only against the law, but it will never be tolerated.”
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From a previous court hearing on 14th January 2026 Daniel Thomas Lea pleaded guilty to five counts of digging for badgers, five counts of wilfully injuring a badger and five counts of interfering with badger setts between September 10, 2024 and February 11, 2025, in addition to one count of ill treatment of a badger on September 21, 2024.
Should have been a longer jail sentence and a ban for life on keeping any animals. But at least he has been sentenced which is more than the filthy scum that hunt get they not only break the law but they also treat their dogs appaulingly.