MARK TIFFIN, BEN GALSWORTHY AND NEIL BURLINGHAM CAUGHT HUNTING IN KNOTTINGLEY AND WETHERBY, WEST YORKSHIRE

In a significant wildlife crime case, three men—Mark Tiffin, Ben Galsworthy, and Neil Burlingham—were found guilty of engaging in illegal hunting activities involving dogs in the regions of Knottingley and Wetherby, West Yorkshire. Despite their convictions, all three individuals received only conditional discharges, sparing them from immediate imprisonment, but the case has raised ongoing concerns about wildlife protection and illegal hunting practices in the area.

These men were apprehended in January 2010 in Gateforth, Selby, after reports from members of the Selby Badger Watch. Witnesses observed three men accompanied by dogs and shovels near a badger sett, which they were monitoring. The accused denied any involvement in hunting wild mammals with dogs, claiming instead that they were out searching for rabbits and attempting to remove rats from mounds of earth at Hambleton Hough. However, their explanations were met with skepticism by the court, as the judge pointed out that their stories were inconsistent and lacked credibility, especially when contrasted with the clear and concise testimonies provided by the prosecution witnesses.

Mark Tiffin, born on September 2, 1990, and residing at 79 Downland Crescent, Knottingley WF11 0EJ, was already serving a 12-month prison sentence at the time of his conviction for causing death by dangerous driving. His involvement in the illegal hunting incident resulted in a two-year conditional discharge. Tiffin is also known for his participation in bareknuckle boxing matches and has been associated with the York and Ainsty South/Badsworth & Bramham Moor Hunt as a 'terrierman,' a role typically involving fence-mending and gate-opening during hunting activities. Photographs taken by members of the York Anti-Hunt League depict Tiffin on a quad bike with visible spades and even show him with blood on his hands during a 'cubbing' meet.

Ben Galsworthy, born on February 26, 1978, of 1 Derwent Place, Knottingley WF11 0NL, and Neil Burlingham, born around 1975 and residing in Clifford, Wetherby, also received two-year conditional discharges and were ordered to pay costs of £500 each. Their dogs, which had been examined by a veterinarian at a cost of over £2,000, were confiscated by police but later disappeared from the kennels under unknown circumstances.

Additional investigations revealed that Mark Tiffin was scheduled to appear at Selby Magistrates Court on March 24, 2011, on charges related to being present at an animal fight. It is alleged that he used his mobile phone to record images of the fight, and he faces multiple charges concerning this incident. Further details about these allegations remain unavailable.

This case has garnered attention from wildlife protection organizations, notably the York Anti-Hunt League, which continues to monitor and report illegal hunting activities in the region. The case underscores the ongoing struggle to enforce wildlife laws and combat illegal hunting practices in West Yorkshire, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and stricter penalties to deter such activities.