Victorian animal cruelty accused Hugh Radford faces 91 charges in Latrobe Valley court

Wombats are protected under the Victorian Wildlife Act. (Tom Dempsey: www.photoseek.com)

A Victorian man facing a string of animal cruelty charges – including using his dogs to kill wombats, kangaroos and brushtail possums – shot video of the alleged offences, a court has heard.

Hugh Radford appeared in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court via video link today charged with 91 offences, including aggravated cruelty, for allegedly killing protected native animals and using pet dogs to hunt deer and native animals.

The alleged offences occurred over two years from March 2018 at various remote locations in eastern Victoria, from Warragul and Trafalgar, where Mr Radford lives, to Brodribb River.

The court heard he was "encouraging his dogs to attack" protected wildlife including wombats, brush tail possums and eastern grey kangaroos.

Other charges related to hunting sambar deer and involved the alleged pursuit of the animals at close range with a vehicle.

Mr Radford is accused of encouraging his dogs to attack the deer, hunting on public land with a dog which was not under his control and not registered, possessing a firearm or bow on a state game reserve, and using a spotlight to hunt game.

Mr Radford appeared via video link in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Morwell. (ABC Gippsland)

Push to confiscate pets

The prosecuting agency, Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) told the court today it wanted to amend the conditions of Mr Radford's bail and ban him from owning dogs.

Disqualifying someone from owning or being in charge of an animal can be ordered by a court under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act if a person is convicted under the act.

DELWP lawyer Jonathon Makary told the court that hearings may be delayed by COVID-19 and that Mr Radford's animals should be removed from his care while he was on bail, despite the absence of a conviction.

"The offending is quite hard to detect, it's often occurred at night in areas of state forest away from the public view," Mr Makary told the court.

He said the DELWP had seen footage of the alleged crimes.

"The offending is over a two-year period and [included] 22 incidences," Mr Makary said.

Mr Radford is expected to face court again on September 8.