A ‘group of lads’ who used dogs to hunt and kill wild animals before sharing footage of the ‘extreme cruelty’ on TikTok have been banned from keeping pets.
The men made more than 180 videos of graphic cruelty to animals, some of which they set to music and edited to share on social media. They appeared in court this week.
Marcus Leverett, 19, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act while Ryan Hancock, 18, pleaded guilty to 11 offences under the Animal Welfare Act and Protection of Badgers Act. They are both from Burnley in Lancashire.
A third teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act and two under the Protection of Badgers Act.
The teenagers were caught after two boys were seen encouraging a dog to attack a cat on an estate in Burnley in March last year.
The cat, later identified as a pet called Gatsby, was rushed to a vet by his owners but died on the way.
The incident was filmed by a witness and passed to Lancashire Police, which in turn alerted the RSPCA and an investigation was launched.
Police executed two warrants under the Animal Welfare Act in April last year on addresses in Burnley.
During the raids, officers seized mobile phones which revealed images and videos of dogs being used to attack animals and hunt badgers, deer, rabbits and birds.
The discoveries prompted two further warrants in the same area.
Officers seized two lurcher-type dogs called Ace and Cassie belonging to Hancock and a crossbreed, called Storm, was seized from Marcus Leverett’s home.
All were taken into the RSPCA’s care and later signed over so they could be rehomed.
A vet who reviewed the 182 videos from the case found: ‘A number of pieces of video footage detail various events involving dogs, a cat and wildlife which raised concern for the welfare of the animals involved.
‘In my opinion, a number of animals involved in this case have been caused to suffer.’
Appearing at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Leverett was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.
He was also disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years.
Hancock was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison for 10 of the 11 offences – to run concurrently – was disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years.
The third teenager, was sentenced at Blackburn Youth Court, on Monday, to a 12-month referral order, disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years. His family were also ordered to pay £500 costs plus a £22 victim surcharge.
RSPCA Special Operations Unit officer Jason Bowles, who led the investigation, said the ‘group of lads’ were ‘targeting animals’ where they lived ‘as well as wildlife in the surrounding area’.
‘We found awful footage on their mobile phones that showed extreme cruelty to animals,’ he said.
‘Many of the photos and videos had been set to music and edited for sharing online.
‘Not only did the animals they attacked and killed suffer, but their own dogs also suffered from injuries in the confrontations and fights.’
PC Matt Hartup, part of the Lancashire Police Rural Task Force in the East of the county, said: ‘This operation – known as Op Ratchet – shows how closely we work in partnership with other agencies to tackle all sorts of crime, and bring offenders to justice.
‘The glamorisation of this type of violence is barbaric and serves no purpose in the countryside; it promotes horrendous suffering and abuse of animals – including the lack of concern for the welfare of the dogs used for these crimes.’
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