Sick poachers set dogs on helpless deer, subjected them to "sadistic" attack, and filmed it for social media

Cruel pair Lennon Gibbinson and David Pringle, both 22, recorded videos showing mindless violence against the animals on separate occasions in December 2023 in the Morpeth area of Northumberland.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the pair were part of a group who targeted the protected animals including by way of kicking and dragging them on the ground by a dog lead. Prosecutor Rachel Butt said both men were eventually caught after a member of a nature watch group gathered multiple videos which had previously been posted on social media.

The material included postings about hunting and poaching and were related to the deer attacks. The pair, who were both 20 at the time, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Pringle also admitted two counts of taking and killing roe deer, in relation to the attacks by the dogs which belonged to him. Mr Recorder Ian Mullarkey told them: "It was discovered by a worker of the Nature Watch Foundation. She created a dossier and supplied it to the police.

"That dossier included footage from social media, videos from two dates showing the attacking and mauling of roe deer while they cried out in distress. On the first occasion, one of the persons stands on the neck of the deer.

"The deer is then allowed to stand and is then kicked in the head causing it to forcefully fall to thew floor and then is dragged by the lead along the floor."

During the second attack a week later, one deer is attacked by multiple dogs. A veterinary deer expert ruled that it was unlikely the animals would have survived the attacks. Recorder Mullarkey told the pair he had watched the "unpleasant" videos and described the deer as being "defenceless animals."

He added: "One of you, I think it's Mr Gibbinson, says 'this will be sent to the police Davie.' Clearly you were aware that what you were doing was very seriously wrong. This was cruel and sadistic conduct."

David Callan, defending Pringle, said: "The defendant is of completely good character. He's 23, he plays football in the community, he goes fishing and he's very much a country young man, brought up in the country, used to country ways and perhaps country attitudes."

Recorder Mullarkey later said he rejected the claim in mitigation it was born out of Pringle's farming background. Shaun Routledge, for Gibbinson, said: "He left school at 16 and has worked hard ever since. He recently worked for a solar panel company. At the moment he's working for a landscape gardener on trial."

Gibbinson, of Fifth Avenue, Stobhill Gate, Northumberland, was sentenced to 18 months suspended for 18 months while Pringle, of Towers Close, Bedlington, Northumberland, was handed a 19 month term, also suspended for 18 months.

The recorder said the behaviour was "appalling and serious" but was able to avoid imposing immediate custody due to the time passed without incident and the prospect of rehabilitation. Gibbinson was ordered to complete mental health and rehabilitation sessions while Pringle will be required to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Both men were also banned from keeping sighthound dogs for four years.