A MAN caught on camera badger baiting in County Durham has appeared in court.

Alan Henderson, 28, of Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday, September 18) to interfering with badger setts and attempting to take a badger from woodland at Crook.

Prosecutor Kevin Campbell told the court that photographs were taken of Henderson hunting badgers with dogs on February 5.

When officers visited Henderson’s home they also found that his four dogs were kept in poor conditions and that one of them, a patterdale terrier called Duke, was suffering from an untreated abscess to the side of his face.

Henderson pleaded guilty to failing to ensure his dogs’ welfare and to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Magistrates adjourned the case until October 10 to allow pre-sentence reports to be prepared.