LIAM TAYLOR'S BRUTAL BADGER BAITING IN MACDUFF REVEALED

Liam Hector Taylor, born on 13 May 1989 and residing at 14 Deyhill, Macduff AB44 1PX, has been convicted of heinous animal cruelty crimes linked to illegal badger baiting activities in the area. The case uncovered disturbing details about Taylor’s involvement in using his dog, Brock, for hunting and fighting purposes, with evidence pointing to severe animal abuse and neglect.

Taylor’s criminal actions came to light after authorities received reports and evidence from a concerned business owner who had come across graphic images online. These images depicted Brock’s grievous injuries, along with trophy photographs of the dog actively participating in hunting activities. The investigation revealed that Taylor had purchased Brock between September 21 and October 8, 2019, with the explicit intent of using him for “pig digging,” a term often associated with illegal badger baiting.

Law enforcement officers from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) responded swiftly to the reports. Upon inspection, they found Brock in a deplorable state, suffering from missing teeth, a severely injured face and paw, a partially torn nostril, and cuts around his muzzle. The injuries were so severe that a specialist veterinarian was called in to examine the dog. The veterinary expert confirmed that Brock’s injuries were consistent with repeated hunting and fighting activities, likely involving foxes and badgers.

During the court proceedings at Banff Sheriff Court, prosecutor Karon Rollo detailed the extent of Brock’s injuries. She explained that the wounds matched those typically inflicted during fights with badgers and foxes. Taylor, who claimed to have owned Brock for less than a month, insisted that the injuries had been sustained in Ireland, where the dog originally came from, and that he had been treating the wounds with salted water. However, the veterinarian’s report contradicted this, indicating that the injuries were consistent with ongoing hunting activities and animal fighting.

Further evidence against Taylor emerged from text messages recovered from a confiscated phone. These messages revealed his involvement in illegal activities, including references to “pig digging,” and expressed hope that Brock would become a “pig digger.” The texts also described Brock enduring “a fair bit of punishment,” and detailed plans to meet with others to “send dogs down sets,” a phrase associated with hunting or fighting animals in underground or illegal settings. The phone contained photographs of Brock with fresh bloodstains and wounds, further implicating Taylor.

Additional forensic evidence included a knife found in Taylor’s jacket, which had been in contact with roe deer and badger DNA, and a skin stapler from his toolbox that also contained Brock’s DNA. These findings strongly linked Taylor to the illegal activities involving animal fighting and hunting.

Currently, Brock is under the care of the SSPCA, who report that he is now looking “much happier” after being rescued from his abusive circumstances. Taylor pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, failing to seek treatment, and training or keeping an animal for fighting purposes. His sentencing included a Community Payback Order with 12 months of supervision, 240 hours of unpaid work, and a ten-year ban on owning animals.

Additional background information reveals that Taylor is married to Nicole Innes, a nurse with NHS Grampian, and they have children. Originally from Fraserburgh, Grampian, Taylor’s social media presence previously showed an obsession with weapons such as slingshots, often used in bloodsports to maim and kill animals. His online profiles also linked him to groups like ‘Bunny Bashers,’ which are associated with bloodsports activities. In November 2022, the Daily Record reported Taylor’s connections to other convicted wildlife persecutors, including Anthony Holloway and Rhys Davies, both involved in dog fighting and illegal animal cruelty activities.