CONVICTED (2022) | so-called ‘terrier-man’ Dewi James Price, born 6 December 1981, of Commercial Street, New Tredegar, Caerphilly (now said to be no fixed abode) – killed a badger and kept a fox cub and red kite at his home. Price, whose various Facebook profiles contain multiple disturbing images and videos showing wildlife being torn apart by dogs, had denied seven wildlife offences, including one occasion when he killed a badger in the Builth Wells area in Powys. The other six offences related to May 2019 when in the Gelligaer area of Caerphilly county borough, Price twice disturbed a nesting red kite. On another occasion, he intentionally took a red kite and had the bird in his possession. Price was found guilty of killing a badger in the Builth Wells area of Powys on February 18, 2018. He was also found guilty of intentionally or recklessly disturbing a red kite while it was in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young and of intentionally or recklessly disturbing the dependent young of a red kite. The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit began investigating Price after pictures and videos on social media labelled “in Builth Wells” appeared to show a dead badger at the bottom of a digged area. In June 2019, the RSPCA and police raided a property in Gelligaer where they found and seized the fox cub The RSPCA said the cub had been kept in Price’s bedroom, and they had found food, water and faeces. Hunting DVDs were found including one called ‘Badger Diggers Dogs’. A female black patterdale terrier type called Gypsy and a young female black patterdale with a white chest called Faith were found and seized. Price’s mobile phone history showed searches for how to “train a red kite to hunt for you” and enquiries on finding kites. Video footage from Price’s mobile phone from May 2019 showed him up a tree at a red kite’s nest where there were three live chicks and a parent red kite nearby. Another video on May 18, 2019 showed Price attempting to feed two chicks in the nest. Another showed Price giving the chicks food and picking the young birds up. There were three chicks seen in the nest. On May 19 Price sent a video including footage seemingly of a man-made nest in a cupboard, and another video showed the chick being fed by Price in the man-made nest. Further footage showed the chick being stroked while a radio played loudly.. During the police search at the Gelligaer property, no red kite chicks were found and the fate of the chick is unknown. Chief inspector Ian Briggs said: “We’d like to remind people that wild animals such as birds and badgers are protected by law and, working with partner organisations, we’re here to ensure that they are safe in their natural habitats. “We would particularly like to thank the Gwent Police Rural Crime Team for their support and assistance with this case.” Rosamund Rutter, for Price, said her client had a history of mental health difficulties including schizophrenia, and also issues around the misuse of alcohol and amphetamine. She said her client now realises he needs support and assistance in relation to his mental health and also now understands the importance of taking his medication. Sentencing: six months in prison – comprising five months for the badger offence and one month for the red kite offences to run consecutively – suspended for 12 months. He must also complete a rehabilitation course. He was ordered to pay a £125 contribution to the £9,946 costs of bringing the prosecution as well as a £25 fine or a breach of suspended sentence order and victim surcharge of £128. The court ordered Faith and Gypsy be taken off Price, and the defendant was banned from keeping dogs for two years (expired February 2024). The judge said the period of the ban would likely have been “much longer” had the case come to court sooner. Wales Online