A south Warwickshire man who stabbed a wild boar before filming his two dogs attacking it has been jailed for 18 weeks.

Luke Rix, 32, of Oxhill, admitted three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the wild boar and the dogs, contrary to the 2006 Animal Welfare Act.

He was jailed for 18-weeks and banned from keeping dogs for ten years when he appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on October 17.

Former gamekeeper Rix was caught when his ex-girlfriend stumbled across the disturbing video on his iPad.

Police were called and raided his Broadwell home along with RSPCA inspectors who seized the device.

A number of videos and photographs were found including a clip showing two dogs - including Rix's mutt Gunner - mauling the boar.

Another film included conversations about the boar hunt, which had taken place in the Forest of Dean.

Other seized videos and photos showed dogs ripping apart a fox, dogs with injuries and terriers tormenting a caged rat.

The films were made between October 1 and November 3 last year.

Rix's video was discovered by his girlfriend who found it on his iPad (image via SWNS)

Vet's evidence

A veterinary expert told the court the terrified boar will have experienced intense pain until it lost consciousness due to blood loss.

In her statement, the vet said: "The dogs have control of the boar which as a result is unable to escape from the situation and is therefore under the control of Rix.

"The dogs were placed into a situation with the wild boar where their safety and welfare were compromised and as a result the black dog sustained injuries."

The vet who examined Rix's dog Gunner found he had a fracture of the upper right canine, missing upper incisors and had lower worn lower incisors.

The dog also had dental disease that was so severe the vet said it would have been in constant pain for three years.

Following his rescue, Gunner had to have more than 20 teeth removed.

When he was quizzed by police Rix said he had always hunted and had previously been a gamekeeper.

'Not an isolated incident'

Prosecutor Lindi Meyer, who represented the RSPCA, said the charges were a "snapshot of the activities in which Rix engages" and said there was a "high risk" of him reoffending if he was allowed to have dogs again.

"Whilst not the subject of criminal charges, all this relevant background information found on his devices shows that the incident with the boar was not an isolated incident and shows he has used his dogs in other situations to set upon a wild animal and that this is a game to him which he will glorify by filming and bragging by distributing it," she said.

She added: "He has shown no regard for their welfare and has put them in a position where they too get injured - not just the animal being hunted.

"He had not sought veterinary assistance for Gunner for the past three years.

"Rix showed no remorse for his actions and believes hunting to be a way of life."

Rix said he was going through a difficult time in his life because of the breakdown of a relationship and issues with his business.

Rix was also ordered to pay £500 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.