BILLY SCARAH'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN HULL REVEALED

The disturbing case of Billy Scarah has come to light following investigations into his online activities that involved the brutal mistreatment of animals in Hull.

It all began when the Naturewatch Foundation identified Scarah after he posted videos that appeared to glamorize and promote the suffering of wild animals. These videos drew the attention of animal welfare authorities, prompting them to alert the RSPCA, which swiftly launched a formal investigation into the matter.

During the course of their inquiries, RSPCA officers visited Scarah’s residence in Hull, where they discovered a severely injured dog, a bull lurcher named Buddy. The dog’s injuries were particularly severe around the nose area, with the damage so extensive that a large portion of his nose was missing. The injuries appeared to be old, indicating that they had been healing over time. In addition to the facial injuries, Buddy exhibited extensive scarring on his head and legs, consistent with past wounds. The tip of his tail was also injured and bleeding, further highlighting the extent of his suffering.

Officers described the injuries in detail, with RSPCA officer Jason Bowles noting the severity: “I could see that he had a large part of his nose missing and the wound looked to be healed. He also had extensive scarring from wounds that looked to be healed on his head and legs. The tip of his tail was injured and bleeding.”

During questioning, Scarah admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to Buddy and also to interfering with a badger sett, actions that are illegal and highly damaging to wildlife. The prosecution outlined that Scarah’s online videos were linked to his cruelty towards animals, and that his activities involved illegal hunting practices, including the persecution of badgers—a significant wildlife crime in the UK.

As a result of his actions, the court sentenced Scarah to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for a year. He was also ordered to pay £600 in costs and a victim surcharge of £187. Additionally, Scarah was mandated to complete 60 hours of unpaid community service. Importantly, the court imposed a lifelong ban on him owning or keeping dogs, aiming to prevent further cruelty.

Law enforcement officials emphasized that the persecution of badgers remains a high priority within UK wildlife crime enforcement. Police highlighted that such cruelty often results in horrific injuries to animals involved, including dogs used in illegal hunting activities.

Buddy was taken into the care of the RSPCA following his rescue and was later rehomed to a loving family, ensuring he would no longer suffer at the hands of his abuser.

Commenting on the case, RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Muttitt expressed concern over the proliferation of social media content that glorifies animal suffering. He stated: “Watching these videos glorifying and glamorising the brutal suffering of wild animals – and the dogs used to hunt them – is shocking. Sadly, this is something that can easily be found on many of the social media platforms today. But we’re proud to work closely with the police and other agencies, such as Naturewatch Foundation, to investigate these videos and bring the people to justice who are causing unnecessary suffering to animals, all in the name of TikTok views and Facebook likes.”

Sergeant Kevin Jones of Humberside Police also underscored the importance of tackling badger persecution, describing it as a key focus for law enforcement. He highlighted the barbaric acts inflicted on dogs and the injuries sustained during these illegal activities, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and enforcement to combat this form of wildlife crime in Hull and across the UK.