REECE WELSH, RYAN KENNEDY, JOHN DALY AND DANIEL RATCHFORD: WILDLIFE CRIMINALS FROM MERSEYSIDE AND GREATER MANCHESTER INVOLVED IN BRUTAL FOX AND BADGER ABUSE

A disturbing case involving a group of four men from the Merseyside and Greater Manchester areas has come to light, revealing their involvement in heinous acts of animal cruelty and illegal wildlife interference. The men, identified as Reece Welsh, Ryan Kennedy, John Daly, and Daniel Ratchford, were found guilty of participating in a brutal attack on a fox and interfering with badger setts, actions that have shocked animal welfare advocates and the local community alike.

According to court reports, the group was observed in the Cheshire countryside, where they claimed to be 'rabbiting.' However, their true activities were far more sinister. Witnesses and evidence presented in court revealed that the men watched with apparent glee as a dog, under their control, viciously mauled a defenseless fox to death. The incident was captured on harrowing video footage, which was obtained by an expert working on behalf of the RSPCA. Prosecutors described the footage as one of the worst they had ever encountered, showing the fox screaming in agony as a lurcher shook it violently in its mouth, while other terrier-type dogs and the men looked on.

Kevin Worthington, representing the RSPCA, emphasized the severity of the footage, stating that it 'spoke for itself.' The video depicted a scene of extreme cruelty, with the helpless fox suffering immensely. The group’s involvement extended beyond this attack, as they were also implicated in interfering with badger setts, an illegal activity under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Evidence collected from their van included locator collars, dog cages, spades, and mobile phones placed down badger setts, all pointing to deliberate interference.

In April 2015, Ryan Kennedy met a violent end when he was deliberately run over by Michael Haigh, a fellow individual involved in badger baiting. Haigh was later sentenced to 17 years in prison for murder. During the trial, it was revealed that none of the accused men attempted to intervene during the fox attack, and their mobile phones had been used to facilitate their illegal activities.

The court proceedings saw each of the four men plead guilty to various animal cruelty charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Badgers Act 1992. John Daly, who also goes by the name Jay Jones and is the founder of Trailer Recovery Northwest Ltd., admitted to interfering with badger setts and causing unnecessary suffering to his female lurcher, Sadie, the dog seen attacking the fox in the footage. He was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison for the suffering inflicted on his dog, with an additional four weeks for each badger sett interference charge.

Reece Welsh, now known as Reece Murphy, also pleaded guilty to interfering with badger setts and failing to prevent suffering to his dog. He received a combined sentence of 16 weeks in prison. Both Ryan Kennedy and Daniel Ratchford admitted to being responsible for the suffering of the lurcher and were sentenced to 12 weeks each. All four men were ordered to pay £200 towards the RSPCA’s costs and were disqualified from owning or caring for dogs for life.

DJ Knight, a prosecutor involved in the case, highlighted the overwhelming evidence of illegal activity, including interference with badger setts. He suggested that the six-month maximum prison term for such offences might warrant reconsideration by Parliament. Anthony Joynes, an RSPCA officer instrumental in bringing the case to justice, described the defendants as 'thugs of the countryside' and 'wildlife criminals,' emphasizing the severity of their actions.

Further background reveals that John Daly, now operating under the alias Jay Jones, is the sole director of a transportation business called Trailer Recovery Northwest Ltd. Meanwhile, Reece Welsh, under his new name Reece Murphy, is involved in backyard breeding and offers canine fertilization services through 'The Dog Business' at Unit 5, Wilson Road, Huyton, Liverpool. Court records show that Welsh has publicly posted photos of himself digging up fox dens and badger sets, often in the company of a young child, raising concerns about his ongoing involvement in illegal wildlife activities. One disturbing image shows a dog with facial scars consistent with animal fighting, despite Welsh’s lifetime ban from owning dogs.

In 2021, Daniel Ratchford was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and was subjected to a court order preventing him from entering large parts of West Lancashire and Sefton districts. His latest conviction involved charges of animal poaching and hunting wild animals with dogs, with authorities discovering five dogs at his residence, in breach of his lifetime disqualification. These cases underscore a troubling pattern of wildlife crime and animal cruelty linked to individuals from the Merseyside and Greater Manchester regions, highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance and enforcement against such illegal activities.