A DOG owner who took part in field sports has admitted causing unnecessary suffering to three Patterdale Terriers which suffered serious facial injuries.

Peter Bewsher, 35, failed to seek veterinary care for the horrific injuries to the three dogs and also failed to prevent them from engaging with wild mammals, knowing the dogs’ propensity to fight.

Bewsher pleaded guilty to three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal when he appeared before Workington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Chris Toms, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said officers from the animal welfare charity and the police went out to the defendant’s property in Egremont on February 14 this year.

They found evidence of country sports in the form of magazines and trophies. There were a number of dogs that were in an ‘extremely poor state’. Each one of the dogs had serious facial injuries concerned with the fighting of animals.

Mr Toms said the dogs would have suffered serious pain and it did not appear they had received veterinary care.

During police interview, Bewsher said he was engaging with field sports, particularly in relation with foxes. If the dogs are known to engage with animals, they should not be used for that purpose, the court was told.

Mr Toms said it appeared that it had been going on for some time. There were serious injuries to the dogs and a refusal to seek veterinary care.

Clive Rees, defending, said: “He has not troubled the court before in any way, shape or form.

“It may be worth saying, when he was detected for the offences, he signed the dogs over to the RSPCA.

“He has got other dogs at home, which he has got rid of. He is entirely dogless now. He sought revocation of his shot gun certificate. There has been a complete change of lifestyle.”

The case was adjourned to allow a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service. Bewsher, of Greendykes, Egremont, will be sentenced on November 6.