DANIEL BROCKLEY OF DULVERTON CONVICTED FOR WILDLIFE PERSECUTION AND DOG ABUSE
| Red Rose Database
Dulverton Animal Abuser
Daniel John William Brockley, a resident of 6 Bury, Dulverton TA22 9NE, was found guilty of serious wildlife persecution and animal cruelty offenses following a comprehensive two-day trial. Brockley, born on March 24, 1989, and employed as a gamekeeper by the shoot management company Loyton LLP, which operates at the Haddeo Estate in the Exe Valley, was implicated in a series of disturbing activities involving illegal hunting practices and the mistreatment of dogs.
His conviction stems from a series of investigations that culminated in a raid conducted in August 2018 by the RSPCA, police authorities, and DEFRA at his residence. During this operation, authorities seized multiple mobile phones containing incriminating evidence, including text messages and photographs. These communications revealed Brockley's involvement in illegal digging activities targeting wildlife such as fox cubs, badgers, and vixens. The images on his devices depicted a dog named Henry suffering from severe facial injuries, with veterinary assessments indicating that the wounds were consistent with injuries sustained during badger fighting.
The court heard that Brockley had repeatedly endangered the safety of a Patterdale terrier named Rock by forcing the animal to work underground on three separate occasions—specifically on January 18, 2017, May 19, 2017, and January 30, 2019. Evidence presented by the RSPCA included graphic photographs showing Rock with a de-gloved lower jaw, a condition where the skin had been forcibly removed due to injury. Brockley's own text messages detailed the dog's injuries, with one message from January 2017 stating, “Dug Rock again tonite!” alongside a photo of a locator receiver indicating a depth of 0.8 meters.
In a subsequent message from May 2017, Brockley shared a picture of Rock with a full degloving injury to his lower jaw, accompanied by the comment, “This is the last time I dug him last May…I’ve not worked him since coz had to revive him after that one.” Witnesses testified that Rock had ultimately died after being shot and disposed of by Brockley, allegedly to cover his tracks. There was also evidence suggesting that other dogs had suffered similar fates while under Brockley's care.
Despite the severity of these allegations, magistrates decided against imposing a ban on Brockley's ability to keep animals. The court noted that Rock was otherwise well cared for and loved, and a ban could jeopardize Brockley's livelihood and accommodation, given his history of dog ownership. The court acknowledged the emotional bond and the otherwise good treatment of Rock, which influenced this decision.
Sentencing for Brockley included 140 hours of unpaid community work and a financial penalty totaling £2,335, covering costs and charges related to the case. The conviction highlights ongoing concerns about illegal wildlife persecution and animal cruelty in the Dulverton area, with local groups such as the Somerset County Gazette, Somerset Badger Group, and SomersetLive closely following the case.
His conviction stems from a series of investigations that culminated in a raid conducted in August 2018 by the RSPCA, police authorities, and DEFRA at his residence. During this operation, authorities seized multiple mobile phones containing incriminating evidence, including text messages and photographs. These communications revealed Brockley's involvement in illegal digging activities targeting wildlife such as fox cubs, badgers, and vixens. The images on his devices depicted a dog named Henry suffering from severe facial injuries, with veterinary assessments indicating that the wounds were consistent with injuries sustained during badger fighting.
The court heard that Brockley had repeatedly endangered the safety of a Patterdale terrier named Rock by forcing the animal to work underground on three separate occasions—specifically on January 18, 2017, May 19, 2017, and January 30, 2019. Evidence presented by the RSPCA included graphic photographs showing Rock with a de-gloved lower jaw, a condition where the skin had been forcibly removed due to injury. Brockley's own text messages detailed the dog's injuries, with one message from January 2017 stating, “Dug Rock again tonite!” alongside a photo of a locator receiver indicating a depth of 0.8 meters.
In a subsequent message from May 2017, Brockley shared a picture of Rock with a full degloving injury to his lower jaw, accompanied by the comment, “This is the last time I dug him last May…I’ve not worked him since coz had to revive him after that one.” Witnesses testified that Rock had ultimately died after being shot and disposed of by Brockley, allegedly to cover his tracks. There was also evidence suggesting that other dogs had suffered similar fates while under Brockley's care.
Despite the severity of these allegations, magistrates decided against imposing a ban on Brockley's ability to keep animals. The court noted that Rock was otherwise well cared for and loved, and a ban could jeopardize Brockley's livelihood and accommodation, given his history of dog ownership. The court acknowledged the emotional bond and the otherwise good treatment of Rock, which influenced this decision.
Sentencing for Brockley included 140 hours of unpaid community work and a financial penalty totaling £2,335, covering costs and charges related to the case. The conviction highlights ongoing concerns about illegal wildlife persecution and animal cruelty in the Dulverton area, with local groups such as the Somerset County Gazette, Somerset Badger Group, and SomersetLive closely following the case.