Hunt Master sent to prison for Badger Baiting

Hunt Saboteurs Association News Release 5th February 2018

David Thomas, hunt Master of the Dwyryd hunt, has today been sentenced to 22 weeks imprisonment and banned from keeping dogs for 8 years after being found guilty of badger baiting. Jordan Houlsten, the hunt terrier man, was also sentenced to 20 weeks and received a ban on keeping dogs for 8 years. A 17 year old who had previously pleaded guilty to being present at a dog fight at the hunt kennels was given a 10month suspended sentence and banned from keeping dogs for 4 years.

David Thomas has previously been accused of badger baiting but got away with it on that occasion. He attempted to blame his co-accused in court today. The judge took into account when sentencing the adults that a child had been dragged into this horrific animal abuse. The evidence shown in court was disturbing and Magistrates Gwyn Jones had no option but to hand out prison sentences. Another man who pleaded guilty on the day received a 10 month suspended sentence and an 8 year ban from keeping dogs.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “David Thomas is the founder, master and huntsman of the Dwyryd Hunt. His ban on keeping dogs means there is no other option than for the hunt to be disband. They will attempt to claim that someone else owns the hunt hounds but this will obviously be a falsehood. The hounds must be re-homed and the apparatus of the hunt broken up. We expect the Masters Of Foxhounds Association to lead the calls for this course of action and to formally distance themselves from the Dwyryd Hunt.”