TWO TAUNTON men have been given suspended prison sentences after they were part of a gang of eleven men who tortured and killed wild animals with their dogs.

Brian Forrest, 40 formerly of Kingston St Mary near Taunton and Kenneth Danes, 29 of Culmhead, Taunton were given suspended custodial sentences after horrific videos and images were seized by the RSPCA showing wild animals being tortured by dogs. 

Brian Forrest had previously admitted one offence of killing a deer and received a six week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months.

The court also issued him with a 140 hour community order and ordered him to pay £800 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Kenneth Danes received an eight week custodial sentence which was suspended for 12 months after he admitted two offences of killing deer at night, under section 3 of the Deer Act. The court ordered him to carry out 140 hours community service, pay £800 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

During a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court yesterday the court heard that the men would exchange messages and some of them would arrange to meet up and travel to Devon where they would use their dogs to kill wild animals.

All of the offences occurred on various dates between April 2014 and November 2015.

Photographs were also seized by police from some of the defendant's mobile phones showing images of dead deer and rabbits lying dead on the ground. 

Nine men from across England and Wales also in the gang were sentenced for their crimes under the Animal Welfare Act, Deer Act, Protection of Badgers Act and the Dangerous Dogs Act. 

Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, said: “The level of deliberate, premeditated cruelty that these men inflicted is horrific, although sadly it is not the first time I’ve seen cases like this.

“Anyone who hears the blood curdling screams of the badger as it is being torn apart in the footage we found will never forget it. I honestly can’t imagine the torture that poor animal would have endured.

“The sheer scale of brutality these men inflicted is almost beyond belief. What makes it all the more outrageous is the pride they took in taking photos of the scores of dead animals, they lined up in front of them. Some of the scenes resembled a blood bath.

“A huge amount of time and effort went into this investigation and I am pleased that the court recognised the serious nature of these offences. I must thank all of the officers and police forces whose joint hard work, cooperation and dedication resulted in these men being brought to justice.”