A man who set illegal fox traps near his Guildford home, causing the "horrible" deaths of two animals, has been sentenced at court.

The "vicious" spring-operated devices - illegal since 1958 - were left around the Tormead School area in Cranley Road in December and January.

The gin traps slam shut when an animal steps on them, and the incidents led to fears of pets or even children being seriously hurt.

The spring action is so powerful it can smash bones of smaller animals and rip their feet off.

One fox found trapped in Fielders Green near the school on December 19 last year had to be euthanised, while a second was discovered dead on January 7.

Yanling Chen, 48, of Springhaven Close, appeared at Guildford Magistrates' Court on Thursday (May 14) to face two separate charges.

He admitted inflicting unnecessary suffering to a wild mammal as well as a second count of using a spring trap in England and Wales other than approved type.

The traps cause hideous injuries

A Surrey Police investigation into the "extremely dangerous" traps involved house-to-house enquiries and advice being issued to local schools, while dog walkers and young families were urged to take extra care while out and about.

The Leatherhead-based Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF) and the League Against Cruel Sports put up a £1,000 cash reward for information leading to a conviction over the "inherently cruel" fox traps.

Speaking after the first animal had to be put down last December, WAF chief executive Simon Cowell said: "The fox had to be euthanised because without its front leg it can't hunt or dig and its leg had been literally severed.

"This was horrible for us because the fox was in a beautiful condition apart from the fact its leg had been completely mangled."

And Mr Cowell added: "These traps are incredibly dangerous and would catch pets or even children - which is an incomprehensible thought."

'Inherently cruel'

Joe Duckworth, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Like snares, gin traps are incredibly archaic, indiscriminate and inherently cruel devices - designed purely to cause destruction, pain and suffereing."

The full charges against Chen were that he "nailed or impaled a wild mammal, namely two foxes, with intent to inflict unnecessary suffering" and "for the purpose of killing or taking animals, [he] used spring traps other than an approved trap".

He was given a community order with 100 hours' unpaid work and also told to pay a £60 victim surcharge plus £85 prosecution costs.

Following the sentencing, a Surrey Police spokesman said: "We took the issue of the fox traps being on land in Guildford seriously and quickly carried out a thorough and proportionate investigation which led to a man being summonsed to court.

"Traps of this nature are illegal and we will take action against anyone found to have placed them on residential land, to prevent residents or animals being injured."

The traps were left in an urban area