A MAN who interfered with a badger sett near Wrexham was fined £500 for his actions this week.

Christopher Woodward, of Quarry Lane, Horton, Oxfordshire, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 10 where he pleaded guilty to a charge of blocking the entrance to a badger sett.

The incident took place at Iscoyd Woods near the Welsh/Shropshire border on February 3 this year.

The 38-year-old was handed a £500 fine for the offence and ordered to pay costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £200 surcharge fee.

Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, it is an offence to interfere with a badger sett, including obstructing access.

PC David Allen, North Wales Police's investigating officer in the case, said: “Given offences of this nature are difficult to bring to court because of their isolated nature, I welcome this result and hope it sends a strong message to those commit such offences that we do take them seriously.

“This type of rural crime will not be tolerated in North Wales, and we will thoroughly investigate any allegations made to us.”