Durham Men Banned From Dog Ownership After Fatal Badger Attack

Kenneth Wade, 29, and Stephen Rose, 38, used dogs. One dog was already hurt, with untreated wounds before that night, and was badly hurt again. Vets gave it surgery, while two other dogs got minor injuries, Lily Wildman told the court.

Wade was already banned from keeping dogs due to a past animal cruelty conviction. Rose later hurt a man badly, leaving him in a coma for four days. York Crown Court heard these details.

Judge Sean Morris, addressing them, called it sadistic behavior. He said they deliberately hurt the dogs and the badger, ignoring animal welfare.

Judge Morris further stated that Wade gets a sadistic thrill, possibly mental or sexual. He noted some derive sexual gratification from cruelty. He called this behavior unforgivable, sick, and depraved, and told them they should feel ashamed.

A local rural watch member reported a suspicious car near the A66 north of Richmond on January 25, 2023. They also spotted lights near a country road.

Police located a car at 8:51 pm at Scotch Corner Services, where the A66 and A1 intersect. Rose was driving, with Wade in front, seemingly hiding his hurt dog. Two of Rose’s dogs were in back, along with a muddy spade.

All three dogs had badger wounds, and Wade’s pants had badger blood on them. Nearby, police found a dug-up badger sett, more spades, and a dead, mauled badger.

Rose and Wade, from Hetton-le-Hole, admitted harming a protected animal. In a separate court, they also admitted killing a badger and disturbing a badger sett.

Leon Stubbs, 19, and Glynn Stubbs, 50, also from near Hetton-le-Hole, are involved. They denied the badger charges and did not attend court.

Police found the Stubbs hiding with a dog near the sett. Wade’s phone contained messages about “digging,” mentioning “Glynn” and “Leon” on the same night as Wade and Rose’s arrests.

The court stated there was no direct link and no proof tied the Stubbs to the sett. Consequently, the case against them was dropped.

Wade received two years in jail and is permanently banned from owning animals. Rose got 23 months in jail after admitting to hurting a man in Gateshead. He is banned from owning animals for 10 years and must not contact the man he hurt, with a restraining order lasting five years.

All the dogs now have new homes, as confirmed by the crown court. Lawyers said their clients were sorry and had no good reason for their actions.