Badger-baiters caught in DNA trap

Four men face jail after animal DNA genetic profiling was used for the first time in the UK to convict them of badger-baiting.

The case brought against the four Derbyshire men by the RSPCA hinged on DNA samples taken from a dead badger which was linked to blood samples taken from a knife and clothing belong to the men.

At a two-day trial at Bakewell Magistrates' Court, Garry Shaw, 28 of Matlock, Gary Pettipierre, 37, a stone waller, of Alderwasley, John Wragg, 32, of Belper, and Michael Holland, 32, unemployed, of Chaddesden had denied three charges of contravening the Protection of Badgers Act by killing and digging up the badger and interfering with a sett. They were found guilty on all three counts.

After the case, RSPCA Inspector Darryl Street said: "When we first started the case 18 months ago I was sceptical. We had caught no offenders on site and there were no confessions we had nothing to tie them down with and we were not going to proceed with the case.

"We then decided to follow the DNA lead. We had two visible stains on the overalls but these were not strong enough to take the case forward. Without DNA there would not have been a case. This will send shock waves through the badger baiting community and you will certainly see more use of DNA to bring these cases to court."

Badger conservationists told the court how they lay in wait for the four men, as they approached a badger sett on Cromford Moor. They watched in horror as the animal was knifed, then bludgeoned to death.