Two Gwynedd men who allowed a dog to damage a badger sett have been given suspended prison sentences.

Anthony Wilkinson from Llanllyfni and Stephen Jones from Bethel admitted interfering with the sett in the Garndolbenmaen area in January.

An joint investigation involving police and RSPCA officers led to two dogs being seized under the Animal Welfare Act.

Wilkinson (29) and Jones (33) had been identified as suspects following enquiries, leading to raids on two houses at Rhedyw Road in Llanllyfni and the Bro Rhos estate in Bethel.

It is illegal to kill, injure or capture badgers - a protected species - or to interfere with their setts.

Both men were given a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for a year, when they appeared before Llandudno magistrates on Wednesday.

They were also banned from keeping dogs for four years and ordered to pay £600 each to the RSPCA.

Investigating officer Matt Raymond from North Wales Police said: "The law to protect badgers is in place for good reason and we take all reports seriously."

“Given offences of this nature are usually difficult to bring to the courtroom because of their isolated nature, I welcome this result, which also demonstrates the importance of the partnership working that we have with the RSPCA when investigating wildlife crime."

“Rural crimes of this nature aren’t tolerated and will be investigated and dealt with seriously at court.”