The RSPCA is investigating after a prominent barrister and campaigner tweeted that he killed a fox with a baseball bat.

Jolyon Maugham QC, whose Good Law Project has brought legal challenges to Brexit, posted about the incident on Boxing Day morning.

The RSPCA said on Twitter that it was "distressing to hear" and that it was looking into it.

Image: A fox caught up in a trap or a snare must be humanely killed, guidelines state

Mr Maugham, who has about 179,000 followers on Twitter, later apologised "to those upset by my tweet".

In his original post, shortly after 8am, he said: "Already this morning I have killed a fox with a baseball bat. How's your day going?"


He also revealed in a subsequent tweet that he was wearing his wife's silk kimono at the time.

After Twitter users responded with anger, accusing him of bragging about his actions, the RSPCA tweeted it was investigating the incident.

"We're aware of a situation regarding a fox, and would like to reassure people that we're investigating," the animal protection organisation said.

"Due to a very high volume of tweets, unfortunately we can't respond to every single one, and are unable to provide further comment right now."

Mr Maugham said after the negative reaction on Twitter, he "called and spoke to the RSPCA and left my contact details".

Sorry to those upset by my tweet. My chickens were very distressed by the fox - both before and after I'd despatched it - and I wanted it out of the way quickly. — Jo Maugham QC (@JolyonMaugham) December 26, 2019

The barrister said the fox had "got caught up in the protective netting around the chickens" at his London home and that he "wasn't sure what else to do".

"My chickens were very distressed by the fox - both before and after I'd despatched it - and I wanted it out of the way quickly," he added.

Government guidelines state that if a fox is caught in a trap or snare on a person's property, they must "humanely kill any fox you catch while it's in the trap or snare".

Gassing or poisoning foxes is prohibited.