JACK CROCKER AND ROBBIE LONG'S CRUELTY IN TRURO: DOGS AND FOX ABUSE SHOCKING CORNWALL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Truro, Cornwall, two men, Jack Crocker and Robbie Long, faced serious legal consequences after being caught engaging in acts of animal cruelty that involved setting dogs upon a defenseless fox. The incident, which was captured on video and subsequently circulated on Facebook, revealed the brutal treatment of wildlife and has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of animal welfare laws.

According to reports, Crocker, born on December 16, 1975, and residing at Woodland View, Boscawen Mine, Blackwater, Truro TR4 8EZ, along with Robbie Long, born on November 28, 1995, of Lower Tolgullow Vean Farm, Little Beside, Redruth TR16 5PX, were observed laughing as they directed their dogs to attack a helpless fox inside a barn. The footage showed the two men standing nearby, with their dogs, Lady and Princess, viciously attacking the small animal while the men appeared to find the scene amusing. The video’s disturbing content led to an investigation by the RSPCA, which uncovered further evidence of cruelty.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs expressed his outrage over the incident, stating, “The footage clearly shows these two men watching as the fox was subjected to what would have been a painful and drawn-out death. Far from dealing with the situation responsibly and humanely, instead they filmed the incident and could be heard laughing as the fox was being attacked. We hope this case being brought before the court will encourage others to report any concerns they have about animal welfare to report them to the police or RSPCA.”

Further investigations revealed that Crocker had previously pleaded guilty to shooting a wild rabbit with a bow, a crime that only came to light after a photo surfaced on Facebook. Both Crocker and Long received suspended sentences of six weeks in prison, which were suspended for a year, along with fines of £425 and a victim surcharge of £115. Additionally, Crocker was sentenced to an extra two-week suspended prison term for using a crossbow to kill an animal. Despite the severity of their actions, neither man was banned from keeping animals; however, both voluntarily signed over ownership of their dogs, Lady and Princess, to the RSPCA.

In a related case, Mikayla Long, also of Lower Tolgullow Vean Farm, was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to border terriers between September 9 and 23, 2016. She pleaded not guilty to two counts of animal cruelty but denied three additional charges involving terrier puppies and a black and white terrier. The specifics of her case, including the outcome, remain undisclosed. Meanwhile, Barry John Rowe, another resident of Lower Tolgullow Vean Farm, faced charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. Rowe, who runs B J Rowe Rubbish Removals, was accused of neglecting a black and white terrier bitch’s health issues, including a mammary mass, during the same period. His case was not resolved at the time of reporting, but he had previously been banned from keeping dogs in April 2021 after being convicted of illegal dog breeding and animal welfare violations. That conviction led to a sentence of 18 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and a disqualification order preventing him from owning or caring for dogs.

The community and animal welfare organizations continue to call for stricter enforcement and harsher penalties for those involved in cruelty to animals, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable wildlife and domestic animals from such heinous acts.