Kelly Brook's ex-Gladiator boyfriend David McIntosh 'crashed van full of dead badgers during controversial cull'

The security operative was hired to transport deceased animals, but lost control, a court heard

A court has heard how Kelly Brook’s boyfriend, former Gladiator star David McIntosh, crashed a van full of dead badgers as he drove the deceased animals away from the killing scene during the controversial cull.

McIntosh, 28, was hired as a ‘security operative’ to transport the macabre cargo for disposal at a furnace in Gloucestershire when he swerved into a bus stop, a court heard.

He apparently lost control of the vehicle when a radio, which police deployed in order to pass on intelligence about the location of anti-cull protestors, fell under the brake pedal.

However, a witness told Stroud Magistrates Court that McIntosh had collided with the bus stop after falling asleep during a night shift in Gloucester city centre just before 1am on 29 September 2013.

McIntosh of Altrincham, Cheshire, did not appear in court in person, but pleaded guilty to two offences by letter.

In the written statement read out in court, he admitted to driving without due care and attention, and driving with a suspended licence for that class of vehicle.

"I was carrying badger carcasses to the furnace as I was involved in the cull," it said.

"The radio was always kept in the vehicle on the dashboard so we could easily hear and keep up with police as to where the protesters were.

"It was blocking the clutch and the brake. Before I retrieved it I was heading off the road. I started to brake but it was too late."

Passenger John Parker, who suffered bruised ribs, thigh, face and wrist in the crash - told the court McIntosh was checking Facebook on his phone when he felt the van change direction.

Thousands of badgers faced being killed in a massive TB cull (Rex Features)

Reading Parker's statement to the court, prosecutor Graham Dono said: "I looked up after feeling the vehicle change direction to see a bus stop.

"I can't say if he was asleep on not, but when I looked at David both of his hands were on the wheel, but his head was on his chest. I believe his eyes were shut."

District Judge Joti Bopa-Rai said: "It is either that he has fallen asleep or been distracted."

He was fined £91, plus a £20 victim surcharge and £30 prosecution costs. He was also given six penalty points on his license.

Around a dozen anti-cull protestors attended the hearing and waved placards outside the court.

They were angered about the alleged ‘collusion’ between cull workers and police.

The case could cause some embarrassment to McIntosh’s model on-off girlfriend Kelly Brook, who has previously fronted campaigns for PETA – one of many animal welfare charities that opposed the cull.

Spokesmen for both McIntosh and Brook have so far declined to comment.