Huntmaster, 56, secretly filmed kicking dogs is jailed for two years

Huntmaster, 56, who was secretly filmed kicking his dogs and who kept his animals in ‘appalling’ conditions on his farm is jailed for two years

• Huntmaster David Thomas, 56, kicked his dogs and mistreated his foxhounds
• He and  his son Carwyn Fazakerley, 18, were arrested after a covert investigation
• Thomas was filmed kicking a foxhound and incinerating dead dogs at his farm
• Thomas, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, north Wales, has now been jailed for two years

A cruel huntmaster has been jailed after he was secretly filmed kicking his dogs and mistreating his foxhounds.

David Thomas, 56, had a foxhound pack seized when police and RSPCA officers raided his farm – and found dogs in ‘appalling’ conditions.

Thomas and his son Carwyn Fazakerley, 18, were arrested following a covert investigation by animal welfare charity League Against Cruel Sports.

Hidden cameras captured Thomas, who was the Master of the Dwyryd Foxhounds in North Wales, kicking and stamping a foxhound into a trailer.

One terrier was seen being chained up without water while dead foxhounds were being incinerated at Cwm Bowydd Farm, Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales.

Thomas is pictured dragging a hound out of the pack and being chained up

RSPCA officers raided Thomas’ farm in north Wales and found dogs in ‘appalling’ conditions

A black female patterdale type terrier was being kept in a very small cage which was rusty, covered in straw and had a plastic bag inside it alongside a dry upturned bowl

Magistrates in Llandudno heard Thomas has run the Dwyryd Foxhounds since 1994 but was banned from keeping dogs for eight years following a conviction for badger baiting in February 2018.

He pleaded guilty to six charges under the Animal Welfare Act and being in breach of a disqualification order for keeping dogs.

The court heard the charges relate to the treatment of his pack of foxhounds and other animals including a terrier, lurchers and two ferrets

His son Fazakerley pleaded guilty to a charge that 29 dogs were not kept in a suitable environment.

Thomas was jailed for 24 months and Fazakerley ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

Thomas and his son are pictured kicking and stamping on a foxhound as it is being loaded on to a trailer

A tan female saluki cross tethered in the corner of a building on a very short chain

The dogs were kept caged in appalling conditions at the farm in north Wales

Both men were banned from keeping dogs for at least 10 years.

Chris Luffingham, director of external affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: These animals were kept in filthy, disgusting conditions and treated appallingly by Thomas and Fazakerley.

‘When we reviewed our investigators’ footage we were shocked and appalled by what we saw – and incredibly concerned for the welfare of other animals we suspected were on the property.

‘Unfortunately our fears were realised when the warrant was executed, and we are grateful to North Wales Police and the RSPCA for their work to safeguard these animals.

‘We welcome today’s custodial sentence but are incredibly disappointed that as someone who has previously been jailed for animal cruelty that today’s sentence wasn’t far stronger, especially given the new sentencing powers available to the courts.’

The RSPCA safely housed all the animals that were seized in the raid.

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