A MAN who waged a war against the use of snares has been jailed for two weeks for not paying fines and compensation imposed for damaging them.

John Gill, 55, of Front Street, Castleside, Consett, County Durham, had £298.50 to pay, but chose to serve time instead.

He said that he was happy to serve time in prison if it meant that more people knew how cruel snares could be.

Gill was jailed at Durham Magistrates' Court yesterday and smiled as he was led away.

Before the hearing, he said: "It just makes me so angry that this is going on all the time.

"It is horrific that this is happening and I feel I am trying to protect animals from this terrible cruelty.

"I will go to jail for any amount of time if it raises awareness of this issue and lets people know what is happening."

His campaign started ten years ago, when his pet dog died after it was caught in a snare. This is the fifth prison sentence he has served for not paying fines.