A MAN is to stand trial accused of illegally hunting badgers and deer.

Ben Wilson also faces charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a black and white bull lurcher, training a dog for fighting another animal, failing to ensure a suitable environment for nine bull lurcher puppies, and failing to protect a bull lurcher from pain and suffering.

The 26-year-old, of Sunbridge Road, Bradford, faces 13 animal welfare charges in total and will stand trial at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court on July 21 and 22.

Wilson appeared at the court today for a brief case management hearing.

The prosecution has been brought by the RSPCA.

Five charges relate to 'wilfully taking a badger' on five separate occasions between July 30 and August 16 last year.

Three of those alleged incidents happened in Thornton, Bradford, with one allegedly taking place in Kent and another at an unspecified location in England and Wales.

Four charges relate to the alleged taking/killing/injuring a deer on four separate occasions in August last year.

One of the incidents relating to deer is said to have taken place in Thornton, Bradford, on August 16. One incident is alleged to have taken place in Kent on August 29.

The charges facing Wilson have been brought under the Deer Act 1991 and relate to roe deer, sika deer and fallow deer.

The rest of the charges relate to an address at High Street, Thornton, between July 30 and September 25 last year.

Wilson was granted unconditional bail by District Judge Richard Clews.