Jeremy Clarkson reported to police amid badger sett ‘stuffed in’ claims

Hunt saboteurs reported Jeremy Clarkson to the police over allegations he stuffed in badger setts on Diddly Squat Farm – however the TV presenter-turned-farmer has denied doing so, claiming he shot all the animals as an alternative.

The former Top Gear presenter turned Amazon Prime Video darling was visited by Thames Valley Police officers after activists from the Cotswold Hunt Sabs reported blocked setts on his land close to Chadlington, Oxfordshire.

Under UK wildlife regulation it’s unlawful to break, destroy, block or disturb badger setts; hunt saboteurs declare to have discovered hideaways blocked with rocks within the space of Diddly Squat, so named as a result of Clarkson claims that is how a lot he makes from it.

Writing in his Sun column earlier this month, Clarkson mentioned he instructed the police who got here out to go to him that he had no cause to fill within the setts – as a result of he shot all of the badgers as an alternative, seemingly beneath licence.

The Grand Tour host – most not too long ago seen in Grand Tour particular Sand Job – wrote: ‘Mercifully, nevertheless, I had the proper excuse: “I’ve shot all the badgers on the farm so why would I want to fill in their setts?” And sure, earlier than you ask, it was all authorized.’

Jeremy Clarkson was seen discussing the badger issues on his farm in an episode of Clarkson’s Farm

Badgers and their setts are protected by UK wildlife laws, however culls might be carried out beneath particular licence to curtail the unfold of bovine TB

The Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs claimed to have discovered proof of badger setts being stuffed in on Clarkson’s land – there isn’t any suggestion that Clarkson himself stuffed within the setts

The Hunt Saboteurs Association criticised Clarkson’s feedback in his Sun column, claiming: ‘It’s a bit unhappy how determined he’s to be preferred by his farmer buddies’

Hunt saboteurs claimed to have discovered stuffed in setts on the land of Diddly Squat Farm (pictured: the doorway to the farm store close to Chadlington, Oxfordshire)

Amazon Prime present Clarkson’s Farm has documented the presenter’s makes an attempt to get his agricultural enterprise off the bottom, helped by veteran farmer Kaleb Cooper (pictured)

Activist Lynn Sawyer, of the Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, mentioned activists focused Clarkson as a result of he has beforehand allowed fox hunts to happen on his land. However, there isn’t any suggestion that Clarkson himself stuffed within the setts.

She instructed the Telegraph: ‘He could not have recognized it had been completed. We usually are not selecting on Clarkson. Instead we are attempting to guard badgers from being persecuted and killed. We don’t discriminate.’

She added that hunts could intentionally block badger setts to eradicate escape routes for foxes. However, doing so is a felony offence as a result of it might entice badgers.

Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, additionally it is unlawful to ship canine into setts. But beneath sure circumstances landowners can apply for licences to both intervene with badger hides or to cull them altogether.

The Badger Trust says badgers might be culled in an effort to curtail the unfold of bovine tuberculosis in cows; however a licence should be obtained and solely applies to the land for which the licence is sought.

It says 143,241 badgers have been killed beneath government-issued cull licenses between 2013 and 2020. Clarkson has not elaborated on the circumstances by which he killed the badgers; his representatives have been contacted for additional remark.

He mentioned in his Sun column of filling in badger setts: ‘That is a critical felony offence which may end up in massive fines and prolonged jail sentences. And if phrase leaked out that I’d been concerned in such a factor, I’d be a social outcast.’

The Hunt Saboteurs Association criticised Clarkson’s feedback in his Sun column, claiming: ‘It’s a bit unhappy how determined he’s to be preferred by his farmer buddies.’ 

The creatures made an undesirable look within the second collection of Clarkson’s Farm, which aired on Amazon Prime in February final yr and devoted a whole episode to the black-and-white furry beasts.

One scene noticed him instructed his cows have been vulnerable to contracting TB as a result of presence of badgers on the farm, one among which examined constructive for the micro organism that causes the illness. 

A scene from Clarkson’s Farm. The Badger Trust has criticised the programme, accusing it of disseminating ‘anti-badger propaganda’ 

Diddly Squat Farm Shop has develop into an unlikely vacationer vacation spot on the outskirts of Chadlington

Clarkson claimed in his Sun column that he had no cause to fill in badger setts as he had already shot the animals (pictured: a scene from Clarkson’s Farm)

He advised that the animals could possibly be shot, gassed, run over or ‘hit over the pinnacle with a hammer’ – solely to be glibly knowledgeable it could be unlawful.

Alluding to his digital camera crew in a single scene discussing badgers, he joked: ‘Because I’ve bought all this lot I am unable to…quietly break the regulation’.

His feedback have been criticised by the Badger Trust, which accused him of creating ‘outlandish, ill-informed and harmful’ feedback concerning the animals.

Peter Hambly, government director of the charity, mentioned final yr: ‘Spreading anti-badger propaganda regardless of the information is unfair, harmful and yet one more assault on nature. It must cease.’

Clarkson purchased the farm within the Cotswolds in 2008, later renaming it Diddly Squat.

He has beforehand watched the native Boxing Day hunt on his land, however has referred to as hunts ‘pompous’ and as soon as joked: ‘What I assumed can be enjoyable is to 1 yr invite the hunt and the antis and watch them have a large battle.’

Diddly Squat has develop into an unlikely vacationer vacation spot after the veteran motoring journalist’s efforts to get it off the bottom have been tailored for TV by Amazon. 

Clarkson’s Farm was properly acquired by critics and farmers alike for its sincere portrayal of agricultural work.

The present has not shied away from the toil and lengthy hours related to fieldwork, and Clarkson’s exasperation with the paperwork weighing down fashionable farming.