Two men from Cornwall have been given suspended prison sentences after footage of them laughing and joking as two dogs attacked a fox was posted online.

Jack Crocker, 41, of Truro and Robbie Long, 21, of Redruth both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a fox by causing the animal to be attacked by a dog.

The RSPCA conducted an investigation after video footage was posted on Facebook which depicted dogs being set upon a fox.

Crocker also admitted using a bow to kill a wild animal at an earlier hearing.

The video footage showed the two men in a barn with dogs, Lady and Princess, who can be seen attacking the fox as laughter is heard in the background.

RSPCA chief inspector Ian Briggs said: “The footage clearly shows these two men watching as the fox was subjected to what would have been a painful and drawn out death.

"Far from deal with the situation responsibly and humanely, instead they filmed the incident and could be heard laughing as the fox was being attacked.

“We hope this case being brought before the court will encourage others to report any concerns they have about animal welfare to report them to the police or RSPCA.”

Both Crocker and Long were sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for a year, and fined £425 and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

Crocker was also given an additional two-week suspended prison sentence to run consecutively for using a crossbow to kill an animal.

Neither of the two men were banned from keeping animals but voluntarily signed over both Lady and Princess into the care of the RSPCA after the court hearing.