8th October 2026
David Stanbury, 54, and his son Jack, 27, admitted offences involving the persecution of deer, foxes and badgers, as well as the mistreatment of dogs used in the attacks.
Their crimes were exposed after police seized David’s phone following his arrest at a wild boar hunt in the Forest of Dean on New Year’s Eve in 2024.
Investigators discovered shocking footage of wildlife being killed, trophy photographs and messages about hunting animals with dogs.
Sentencing the pair on September 25, Judge Fowler declined to have the videos shown because of their upsetting content, instead hearing descriptions of the offences.
He said the evidence demonstrated “deliberate and prolonged disregard for domestic animals and wild animals”.
David, of Denstead Lane, Chartham Hatch, Kent, pleaded guilty to nine offences. These included causing unnecessary suffering to dogs and a badger, killing deer and failing to protect a lurcher called Bear.
He received a three-year prison sentence, suspended for three years, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
He must also observe a nine-month curfew between 9pm and 5am and pay £5,000 in costs.
Jack, of Vale View Road, Aylesham, admitted seven offences, including deer offences, causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and failing to meet the needs of dogs subjected to physical abuse or intimidating behaviour.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, observe a six-month curfew between 9pm and 5am and pay £1,000 in costs.
Both men were disqualified from keeping animals for life.
Michelle Hare, an investigator with the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, which tackles serious and organised animal crime, said the contents of David’s phone revealed the scale of the cruelty.
“The RSPCA launched an investigation after David Stanbury was arrested by Gloucestershire Police at a wild boar hunt in the Forest of Dean on New Year’s Eve in 2024,” she said.
“His phone was seized and unlocked a mass of content showing he was prevalent in the persecution and hunting of wildlife with his dogs, as well as implicating his son, Jack, in the crimes.”
She added: “We found a large number of shocking videos showing wildlife being brutally killed, heartbreaking trophy images and messages relating to hunting deer, foxes and badgers with his dogs, uncovering extreme levels of suffering for both the wild animals as well as the dogs used in the crimes.”
The RSPCA worked with Kent Police to execute warrants at the men’s addresses in October 2025.
During the searches, officers found Bear, one of the dogs identified in the videos. He was seized and taken into RSPCA care.
Further mobile phones recovered during the investigation were forensically examined, revealing additional offences.
Police Sergeant Ross Haybourne, from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force, said: “Our close working relationship with the RSPCA supports the prosecution of those who commit the most abhorrent crimes against wildlife and domestic animals.
“This was the case in our arrests of David and Jack Stanbury, during which we recovered vital evidence for RSPCA investigators. We also ensured a vulnerable dog was seized and taken to safety for ongoing care.
“We are determined to bring those responsible for rural crime to justice and our collaboration with partner organisations is a crucial part of this work.”
In mitigation, the court heard that both men were remorseful and had cut ties with the hunting community.
Bear was later signed over to the RSPCA and moved to one of its rehoming centres, where he found a loving new home.
Firstly why the hell were the sentences suspended scum like this should be behind bars and then on release done unpaid work. What I am wondering is why when these two bastards have got prison sentences (suspended) why do the rest of the vile hunt filth not get the same but NOT suspended all this scum get are fines. WHY