TWO BLOODTHIRSTY men repeatedly released rabbits into fenced areas then set their dogs on them.

In one instance the pair throw a rabbit to the ground inside an enclosed basketball court before kicking it to make it run.

They then release a straining dog from its lead and egg it on as it hunts down the terrified and defenceless wild animal.

The rabbit attempts to escape the caged area, running into the wall multiple times.

But after about 30 seconds of being chased the dog catches it and clamps its jaws around its neck.

The RSPCA became aware of the actions following a tip-off in May and launched an investigation.

A 19 and a 20-year-old were arrested in relation to the incidents, with both men saying they thought their activities were legal.

The Argus:

Tyler Rhys Earwaker of Shalfleet Close, Eastbourne, pleaded guilty to six offences and Liam David Smith of Kensington Way in Polegate, pleaded guilty to two offences at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on September 30.

A warrant was executed by police on May 14 at a house in Eastbourne in which RSPCA officers joined police and a number of mobile phones were seized.

Five dogs were found at the premises and all appeared to be in good condition. A number of hutches and cages were also located in the garden, some with ferrets inside.

RSPCA special operations unit inspector Carroll Lamport said: “Earwaker told me he used a large trap for rabbits, using carrots as bait.

“Some of his coats were bloodstained and a number of phones and an iPad were seized.”

Police also took four dogs from the house, two lurchers and two terriers.

Inspector Lamport later received a call from Smith’s father claiming one of these dogs belonged to him.

She said: “He told me he’d bought the terrier for his son.

“We discovered that his son, Liam Smith, had been going out with Earwaker rabbiting and ferreting, and they were catching rabbits and ‘dropping’ them in front of their dogs for the dogs to chase in order to train the dogs. They thought the latter was legal.”

Earwaker was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from keeping rabbits for five years and ordered to pay £300 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Smith was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from keeping rabbits for five years and ordered to pay £300 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Inspector Lamport added: “When we checked the phones we found lots of videos of Earwaker and Smith releasing captured wild rabbits and setting their dogs on them.

“Some of the videos show the chase taking place across fields while others take place in fenced areas such as a basketball court and a children’s playground meaning the rabbits had no real chance of escape.

“It’s really upsetting to watch the footage and the rabbits must have been extremely distressed before being released.

“The chase would have been terrifying for them and the manner in which they were killed would have resulted in unnecessary suffering.”