A HORRABRIDGE man has been reunited with his dogs – more than two years after they were seized by the RSCPA.

Nathan Baker, 24, was cleared of offences relating to dog fighting at Newton Abbot Crown Court nearly six months ago along with five others. It followed a three-year investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police and the RSCPA.

Mr Baker’s springer spaniel-terrier cross called Chase and collie-whippet cross, Willow, were taken from him during a police raid in January 2013.

But despite being cleared of all charges in November 2015, Mr Baker has only recently been reunited with his pets.

He said the experience had been a ‘crazy journey’ and that he was focused on getting the dogs settled at home.

Mr Baker said he was only allowed to visit his dogs once while they were being cared for by the RSCPA.

He was also worried about the condition of his dogs but a RSPCA spokesperson said that the dogs were regularly walked and in good health.

The RSPCA claimed that Mr Baker was part of a group called the ‘Devon Destroyers’.

Alongside Nathan Baker, in the dock were Kerry Wrightson, who faced lesser charges and Craig Ford, Benjamin Luscombe, Craige McCormick, Alex Salt and Jack Curnow who were all from Plymouth.

The RSPCA said the group mainly used lurchers to sniff out and pursue deer, badgers and rabbits before they were ‘torn to pieces’.

RSPCA lawyers said the dogs were sometimes injured during ‘fights’ with wild animals.

They were also alleged to have caused, or been present at, such events, which are banned by the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Despite having no direct evidence linking the group to the offences, RSCPA lawyers highlighted Facebook posts and text messages.

However, Judge Kevin Gray cleared all five of them after ruling that, even if what the RSPCA claimed was true, it could not be viewed as animal fighting.

He said the law was aimed at organised and controlled animal fights, such as dog fights, which involve restraint or control of animals by humans.

The RSPCA took the case to London’s High Court, arguing that Judge Gray misinterpreted the law but Mrs Justice Carr found the trial judge had acted properly.

She said: ‘If the activities alleged did indeed occur, they can only be described as abhorrent and offensive to all right-thinking members of the public.’

She upheld the ruling on the legal definition of animal fighting and confirmed the acquittal.

Following the case the RSCPA vowed to lobby Parliament for a change in the law – although lawyers have pointed out that the Hunting Act can be used in cases of illegal hunting.