A WIRRAL man who recorded home videos of his dogs attacking badgers has been sentenced to jail.

Police raided the home of Leslie Fowell, in St Pauls Road, Rock Ferry, on March 5, and discovered photographs and videotapes showing his pet Staffordshire bullterrier and other dogs fighting with badgers.

The images showed that Fowell was using a technique known as 'lamping' to catch the protected animals.

The offences came to light in January when officers were investigating an incident near a badger set at Poulton Hall.

Fowell, 34, was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment by Wirral magistrates for four offences of cruelly ill-treating a badger and four offences of wilfully injuring a badger.

He was also disqualified from keeping dogs for two years.

Constable Andy McWilliam, wildlife crime officer for Merseyside Police, said the tapes showed savage and prolonged attacks by the dogs on badgers.

He said it was clear these attacks were deliberate and men could be heard shouting encouragement to the dogs.

When interviewed by the officer, Fowell admitted that he was present with his dog during the attacks, which he claimed had taken place at Caerwys, in Flintshire, between October and December, 2003.

Following the sentence Cons McWilliam said: "These were offences of extreme cruelty and this prison sentence should warn others that this behaviour will not be tolerated."