A dog had to be put to sleep after a warped Motherwell man sent it down a badger-baiting sett. 

Robert King had sent two Jack Russell Terriers into a sett after digging it out close to Carluke Train station on April 25, 2018.

The 33-year-old had fitted the canines with locator collars to allow him to determine the location of the dogs while they were underground.

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When the dogs returned to the surface, they sustained injuries that indicated they had fought with a badger. One of the terriers was so severely injured that it had to be euthanised.

The terriers, along with King’s lurcher, which was roaming freely, were seized by the Scottish SPCA.

The court made a deprivation order removing the surviving terrier and the lurcher from King’s ownership.

Lanark Sheriff Court found King guilty of two charges under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

He has been banned from keeping animals for life as well as being ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. He has also been given a Restriction of Liberty Order for a seven-month period.

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Sara Shaw, Head of Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit said: “I welcome the conviction and sentence of Robert King and the message it sends to others who would cause such terrible and unnecessary suffering.

“The law protects badgers from harm as well as dogs from being used for fighting.

“I would like to thank Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA for their part in investigating and gathering evidence of these offences.

"COPFS will continue to work to ensure those who participate in this barbaric practice are prosecuted and would encourage anyone who may have information on animal fighting to contact Police Scotland."