Northwich man banned from keeping animals after admitting to dog fighting

A Cheshire man has been sentenced after admitting causing dogs to fight with badgers and foxes.

Liam Talbot, 27, of Rowan Road, Weaverham, Northwich, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act and was sentenced at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 8.

He admitted causing animal fighting or fights to take place between a dog or dogs and wild mammals (foxes and badger) and causing unnecessary suffering to a bull lurcher cross type dog named Cid by failing to provide vet care and attention for an injury to his upper left canine tooth.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks custody which was suspended for 18 months and was disqualified from keeping all animals for three years. He was also given a community order with 25 RAR days (rehabilitation activity requirement) and a six month mental health treatment requirement.

Two dogs involved in the case - Pepper and Cid - were officially handed over to the RSPCA and he was ordered to pay £500 costs and a £154 victim surcharge..

The court heard that this was an RSPCA special operations unit (SOU) investigation named Operation Fir and involved the fighting of badgers and foxes with dogs uncovered through the defendants social media posts - with compilation videos of images uploaded to TikTok. A number of images showed equipment (lamps, locator collar, spades) often used for hunting wildlife.