More than 27,000 people have backed a petition calling for a prominent lawyer who clubbed a fox to death on Boxing Day to be prosecuted.

Jolyon Maugham QC, who is known for leading a series of legal actions over Brexit, triggered an angry backlash on Twitter on Thursday when he wrote: “Already this morning I have killed a fox with a baseball bat. How’s your Boxing Day going?”

The Good Law Project founder claimed the animal had “got caught up in the protective netting around the chickens” at his London home and he “wasn’t sure what else to do”.

He later apologised and told his 178,000 followers that he had reported himself to the RSPCA.

Mr Maugham also revealed he was wearing his wife’s green satin kimono and nursing a hangover when he clubbed the fox to death.

RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 Show all 18 1 /18 RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 Storage centre workers in Bristol found a fox with his head stuck in the middle of an old tyre. Storage centre workers in Bristol found a fox with his head stuck in the middle of an old tyre on October 4 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A horse needed help after getting stuck in a cattle grid in Abertillery, Wales. A horse needed help after getting stuck in a cattle grid in Abertillery, Wales, on December 13 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A five-month-old's parents were horrified when they found a 1m-long python slithering around their daughter’s nursery in Tadworth, Surrey. A five-month-oldâs parents were horrified when they found a 1m-long python slithering around their daughterâs nursery in Tadworth, Surrey, on August 7 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 An embarrassed fox needed a helping hand after getting stuck in a tangle of ivy hanging from a garden fence in Soilhull, West Mids. An embarrassed fox needed a helping hand after getting stuck in a tangle of ivy hanging from a garden fence in Soilhull, West Mids, on October 17 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A baby corn snake was found by a member of staff abandoned in a takeaway tub in a McDonalds in Middleborough. A baby corn snake was found by a member of staff abandoned in a takeaway tub in McDonaldâs in Middleborough on July 6 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 Rolls-Royce staff were shell-shocked after finding a turtle wandering through their Technology and Logistics Centre in West Sussex. Rolls-Royce staff were shell-shocked after finding a turtle wandering through their Technology and Logistics Centre in West Sussex on July 2 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A woman had a surprise after opening her kitchen drawer to find a snake inside in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. A woman had a surprise after opening her kitchen drawer to find a snake inside in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on 7 July 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A greedy squirrel got caught red-pawed with his hands in the cookie jar after getting trapped in a bird feed in Redditch, Worcestershire. A greedy squirrel got caught red-pawed with his hands in the cookie jar after getting trapped in a bird feed in Redditch, Worcestershire on July 30 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A woman enjoying a bath had a fright when she spotting a slow worm poking his head poking out of an air vent in Bristol. A woman enjoying a bath had a fright when she spotting a slow worm poking his head poking out of an air vent in Bristol on June 11 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A male roe deer found himself in a spot of bother when he got stuck in metal railings around St James Churchyard in Barlborough, Derbyshire. A male roe deer found himself in a spot of bother when he got stuck in metal railings around St Jamesâ Churchyard in Barlborough, Derbyshire, on April 29 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 An elderly cat used one of his nine lives – after getting his leg stuck in a washing machine door at a home in Tipton, West Midlands. An elderly cat used one of his nine lives - after getting his leg stuck in a washing machine door at a home in Tipton, West Midlands on December 18 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A woman was shocked to find a fox curled up in a wardrobe in her second-floor flat in Dagenham, London. A woman was shocked to find a fox curled up in a wardrobe in her second-floor flat in Dagenham, London, on December 14 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A walker found a sheep having a baaaaad day - with her head stuck fast in a wire fence in Barnstaple. A walker found a sheep having a baaaaad day - with her head stuck fast in a wire fence in Barnstaple on December 5 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A woman from South Croydon had a shock when she heard strange noises coming from the bins at the front of her home – and found a tiny fox cub inside. A woman from South Croydon had a shock when she heard strange noises coming from the bins at the front of her home - and found a tiny fox cub inside one on 22 May 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A young seal found herself in quite an unusual predicament – on top of a 50m-high sea cliff at Abercastle A young seal found herself in quite an unusual predicament - on top of a 50m-high sea cliff at Abercastle. September 29 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A Cardiff taxi driver had an unexpected passenger on board after discovering a corn snake under the bonnet of a taxi. A Cardiff taxi driver had an unexpected passenger on board â after discovering a corn snake under the bonnet of a taxi. October 11 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 RSPCA and fire service teams were called to Bishop Auckland, County Durham, to rescue a ferret who got stuck in a waste pipe. RSPCA and fire service teams were called to Bishop Auckland, County Durham, on 9 April 2019 to rescue a ferret who got stuck in a waste pipe - at the top of a two-storey building! The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 An injured grey seal stumped RSPCA rescuers who were called to collect him - from the top of a 10ft high Second World War pillbox on Fraisthorpe Beach. An injured grey seal stumped RSPCA rescuers who were called to collect him - from the top of a 10ft high World War Two pillbox on Fraisthorpe Beach in Yorkshireâs East Riding on 26 February 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS

An RSPCA spokeswoman confirmed the animal welfare charity is aware of the “distressing” incident and that it is investigating, adding: “We’ve been made aware of this and are looking into it.”

However, she said there is not likely to be any update for several weeks.

Tens of thousands of people added their names to an online petition calling for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to investigate the incident and to prosecute Mr Maugham “if appropriate”.

Government guidelines state cage traps and snares may be deployed to protect property from foxes and a person who uses them must “humanely kill any fox you catch while it’s in the trap or snare”.

After receiving a barrage of criticism, Mr Maugham said: “No one should relish killing animals – and I certainly didn’t – but if you haven’t been up close to a large trapped fox, perhaps reserve judgment.”

Matthew Scott, a lawyer who writes legal commentary on his website Barrister Blogger, said the “obvious offence to consider first” is a breach of the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act, which prohibits inflicting “unnecessary suffering” by beating.