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A Bedwas man who abused badgers in “deliberate and sadistic” acts has been jailed for four months and banned from keeping animals for the rest of his life.

Newport Magistrates’ Court heard how Lloyd Gary Robert Davies, 23, of Bryn Heol, killed or injured the badgers by setting lurcher dogs on them, and filming and sharing the attacks on his mobile phone.

One video showed a man’s hand sticking a knife into an injured badger after it was kicked and attacked by dogs.

Davies pleaded guilty to killing, injuring or taking a badger, and aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring another person to kill, injure or take a badger, under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

He also exposed his female lurcher, Shirley, to severe injuries by putting her into illegal fights and lending her out for others to use her for the same purposes. He admitted two charges of failing to meet his dog’s needs to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease, by using her to hunt badgers.

District Judge Sophie Toms said: “This was deliberate and sadistic cruelty filmed and shared for entertainment – one of the most serious cases of cruelty I’ve had to deal with in all my time.”

However, Judge Toms admitted her “hands are somewhat tied” and that she wanted a harsher sentence.

At a sentencing hearing on September 25, Judge Toms ordered Davies to pay £400 costs and a £154 victim surcharge – which goes towards funding victim services.

Davies’ cruelty was exposed when a mobile phone seized from him last year was examined by the RSPCA’s special operations unit – with 13 videos found showing lurchers attacking injured badgers.

It was said after the case that Davies was ill at the time the stabbing video was filmed and had not been involved in making it.

In mitigation, it was said that Davies was, at 22, “young” when he committed the offences and had health issues, as well as ADHD and autism.

He was said to have got involved with a “bad crowd” – but was now “deeply upset and remorseful,” and had signed over his dog to the RSPCA.

The dog has since been given medical care and rehomed in another part of the country.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, which investigated, said: “The judge’s comments made it absolutely clear what she thought about the degree of cruelty inflicted on badgers in this case.

“She also spelled out the kind of harm suffered by the defendant’s dog Shirley before we were able to take her to safety.

“But it also shows how people who persecute wildlife for pleasure will not be tolerated. We will investigate them and bring them to justice.”

The RSPCA worked alongside Gwent Police and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) as part of the investigation into Davies.

PC Rhys Jones of Gwent Police, said: “This case showcases the importance of our link with the RSPCA, to ensure that offenders like Davies do not get away with these cruel acts against animals.”

David Griffiths, of NRW, described the case as “deeply disturbing” and said: “Badgers and their setts are safeguarded by law, and any harm caused to them without a valid licence is a criminal offence.

“We work closely with enforcement partners including the RSPCA and the police to uphold wildlife protection laws in Wales. This prosecution sends a strong message that such appalling acts will not be tolerated.”