A LOCHORE man who trained his four dogs to violently bait wild animals has been given a Community Payback Order and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

Martin Davidson, 24, of Abbotsford Road, was also banned from keeping dogs for five years after appearing for sentence today at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

After an investigation by the Scottish SPCA, he was found in possession of videos showing his dogs attacking foxes and posing with injured and dead animals.

Sara Shaw, head of the wildlife and environmental crime unit, said: “Dog fighting is a cruel illegal activity which causes terrible and unnecessary suffering to animals.

“I welcome today’s sentence and the granting of the order preventing Martin Davidson from keeping any animal for five years.

"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will continue to work to ensure those who participate in this barbaric practice are prosecuted and would encourage anyone who may have information on dog fighting to contact the police or the Scottish SPCA."

Davidson had previously pleaded guilty to training his dogs for animal fighting, including badger baiting, and for failing to provide veterinary treatment to an injured dog in his care.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said his client’s position was that although the dogs were originally kept for fighting and hunting, this had stopped and he then saw them as his pets.

Mr Flett said: “He knows now that this was wrong and it hadn’t happened within a year of the matter coming to light.”

The solicitor said the public’s disapproval of Davidson’s actions had been made clear to him after the court case was reported.

Sheriff Alastair Brown said: “Hunting with dogs is illegal and it should also have been known to anyone with a grain of sense there is public disapproval of hunting with dogs, dog fighting and not keeping them in acceptable conditions.

“From what your solicitor says, public opinion seems to have been made clear to you.”

Three of the dogs involved in the case were male, brindle coloured bull lurchers named Tramp, Mojo and Sid.

The other was a female, white and tan, Staffordshire bull terrier named Lady.

A Scottish SPCA special investigations unit inspector, who cannot be named due to undercover operations, said they had received intelligence that Davidson was keeping and training dogs for fighting and obtained a search warrant for his home last September.

The inspector said: “The Staffordshire bull terrier, Lady, was in the house.

“She had significant scarring to her muzzle and lower jaw. These injuries are consistent with animal fighting, in particular badger baiting.

“The three lurchers were found outdoors in a kennel and run in the rear garden, far too small for their size and breed. Two had obvious, fresh injuries to their ears and heads.”

The inspector continued: “We also found animal fighting paraphernalia at Davidson’s residence. This included hunting gear, blood stained wellies and a spot lamp commonly using for lamping with dogs, which is hunting at night.

“Multiple images were discovered of his dogs pictured with dead animals at night. Some featured the dogs viciously gripping foxes between their jaws.

“During interview, Davidson admitted that the four dogs were not registered with a vet and did not receive any medication or treatment to ease their suffering from any of the injuries they had sustained.

“Other photos showed Lady, Tramp, Mojo and Sid in the back of Davidson’s vehicle at night with fresh injuries. Our expert vet determined these were consistent with animal fighting, specifically with badgers and foxes."

In court today, Davidson was also made subject of an order depriving him of ownership of the four dogs.

The SSPCA inspector said: “The disregard that Davidson had for the welfare of the wild animals he forced his dogs to fight, and for his own dogs, is unfathomable. The dogs are in our care and are currently receiving the rehabilitation they need.

"Sadly these types of offences are not uncommon across Scotland, causing serious distress, injury and suffering to the dogs and wild animals. The SSPCA Special Investigation Unit is dedicated to combatting animal fighting and specialise in dealing with these types of offences.

"We would encourage the public to reports suspicions in confidence.

“If anyone has any information pertaining to individuals who are involved in this activity, we would urge them to contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”