SHAUN CHAPMAN, GARRY DOUGLAS AND TERRY MURRAY CONVICTED OF BADGER BAITING IN KINGSTON UPON HULL

In a significant wildlife crime case, Shaun Chapman, Garry Douglas, and the late Terry Murray faced justice for their involvement in illegal activities targeting badgers in the Kingston upon Hull area. The trio was found guilty of interfering with a badger sett under section 3 of the Protection of Badgers’ Act 1992 following a one-day trial held at Hull Magistrates’ Court in September 2010.

Chapman, born on August 12, 1981, and residing at Rishworth Close, Bransholme, Hull HU7 5BG, was among those convicted. Alongside him, Garry Arthur Douglas, born on July 21, 1970, with a known address at Railway Cottages, Newport Road, Great Bridgeford ST18 9PR, was also found guilty. The third individual, Terry Murray, born in 1962 and now deceased, was from Ottringham. Murray’s death occurred in December 2011 when he was involved in a fatal car accident after his vehicle skidded on black ice.

The defendants had denied the charges, claiming their activities were merely attempts at “bushing” for foxes and rabbits, rather than targeting badgers. However, evidence presented during the trial painted a different picture. The police discovered the men armed with two shovels, three terriers, and an electronic dog collar locator when they apprehended them. The incident took place at Sunk Island, East Yorkshire, an area known for its wildlife and rural landscape.

According to reports, Shaun Chapman explained that his dog, a black Patterdale terrier, had entered one of the holes in the badger sett after a fox. He stated that he used a digital locator to track his dog’s movements, while the other men used two spades to dig above the sett. Garry Douglas, who was found with his English bull terrier at the scene, claimed he had traveled to East Yorkshire on an invitation after meeting Chapman at a Welsh game fair. Douglas insisted he did not dig but was there to “bush” for foxes and rabbits, joking that he was “too lazy” to dig.

During the arrest, Douglas discarded one of the spades before leaving the area. The police helicopter, which arrived at the scene, captured footage of the activities, providing crucial evidence for the case. Officers on the ground apprehended all three men, who were subsequently brought before the court.

District Judge Frederick Rutherford delivered the verdict, stating, “I found you approached a live sett knowing at the time it to be active. Your intention was to bait or kill animals by digging out the sett with the sole purpose of causing terror to a protected species. You had intended to cause extreme cruelty to the animals in this sett.”

Clive Rees acted as the defense counsel for the defendants. The court sentenced each of the men to 12-week suspended jail sentences, along with 200 hours of unpaid work and a fine of £2,000 each to cover costs. The case drew attention to ongoing efforts to combat illegal wildlife activities in the region, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable species and their habitats.

Shaun Chapman, who has links to Doncaster and works as a self-employed plasterer under the name Chapman Contractors, remains a notable figure in this case. The incident underscores the persistent issue of illegal badger baiting in rural parts of East Yorkshire, including Kingston upon Hull, and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb such activities.