The following information is taken from press clippings about the various court cases. Therefore some of the information might be out of date, such as address’s.
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Address – Jenningtree Way, Belvedere
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £400 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 22
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight (£300) and possession of fighting spurs (£100). When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Anderson Derek
Address – The Layby, Alvescot Road, Carterton
In court on 16/7/92
Found not guilty
Magistrates – Witney
Age/D.O.B –
Also accused – Kenneth Osbourne, Theodore Loveridge, Michael King and Frank Loveridge
Notes – Anderson was cleared of assisting in the cockfight and being present at a cockfight. The court heard that two passers by had seen a group of men standing around some boards of wood, which had two cockerels fighting behind. The incident took place on 12/4/92 in a layby on Alvescot Road.
Name – Anderson Joseph
Address – Birchwood Road, Swanley
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – 2 year conditional discharge and £30 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 16
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Anderson Seamen
Address – North Road, Belvedere
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 46
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Anderson William
Address – North View, Birchwood Road, Swanley
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 44
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Address – Eynsford Road, Crocken Hill
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 35
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Barnard Belcher
Address – Chapman Road, Belvedere
Convicted – 20 /3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 42
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Bell John
Address – Dilks Street, Bishop Auckland
Convicted – 5/7/96
Fine – £800 and £750 costs
Magistrates – Durham
Age/D.O.B – 27
Also convicted – William Ross, Joseph Kelbie, John Hawthorn, Thomas Waugh and David Littley.
Notes – Admitted being present at a cockfight. They were all caught on March 19 1995 in a shed on Ross’s allotment. When the RSPCA had raided the shed they found two cockerels with sharp spurs attached to their legs fighting in a ring with about twelve men were seated around it. They also found 14 dead and 9 injured birds. All defended by Paul Williams.
Name – Blowes Benjamin
Address – Mill Lane, Stetchworth near Newmarket
In court on 22/5/92
Case thrown out on a technicality
Magistrates – Swaffham
Age/D.O.B – 19
Also accused – Brian Palmer, William Sargeant and John Cavey
Notes – Benjamin was accused of being present at a cockfight. The offence was alleged to have taken place on 23/5/91 at Palmers house. Their barristers claimed the fight had actually taken place on 17/5/91. Under the current law the court action against the men was three days over the six month deadline.
Address – Ley Road, Stetchworth near Newmarket
In court on 22/5/96
Case thrown out on a technicality
Magistrates – Swaffham
Age/D.O.B – 28
Also accused – Brian Palmer, William Sargeant and Benjamin Blowes
Notes – Cavey was accused of being present at a cockfight. The offence was alleged to have taken place on 23/5/91 at Palmers house. Their barristers claimed the fight had actually taken place on 17/5/91. Under the current law the court action against the men was three days over the six month deadline.
Name – Clarke John
Address – Dally Park, Lower Road, Hextable
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 35
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Clayden Raymond
Address – Avenue Road, Erith
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 32
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Cooper Malcolm
Address – Barnetby Road, Scunthorpe
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 41
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson and Paul Hill.
Notes – Pleaded guilty to attending a cockfight in the first week of the trial. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Address – Brobbington near Stourbridge
Convicted – 19/8/85
Fine – £1,000 and £160 costs
Magistrates – Bridgnorth
Age/D.O.B – 45
Also convicted – Terrance Richmond, James Glaister, George Meakin, Michael Theckston, Robert Pinches, Mervyn Humphreys and Charles Taylor
Notes – Admitted ill-treating animals, assisting at a cockfight, using premises for cockfighting and possessing spurs and spur pants. They were all caught at The Wheatland F.H. kennels in Eardington near Bridgnorth on 16/6/85 after a raid by the RSPCA and the police. They also found six dead birds and 21 still alive, but were injured. Defended by Anthony Jamison.
Address – Half Moon Lane, Tudeley
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 48
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Foy John
Address – Used to live at Bean Hotel, Bean Street, Hull
Convicted – 1982
Fine – ?
Magistrates – Hull
Age/D.O.B – 34
Also convicted –
Notes – Convicted of allowing a cockfight on his premises. As a result of Foy being found guilty he was forced to quit the tenancy and the Hotel.
Name – Fuller John
Address – Star Lane, St Mary Cray
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B -31
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Address – Marringdean Road, South Billingshurst
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – 1 month and £600 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 31
Also convicted – John Lee, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of procuring cocks to fight and attending a cockfight, he was also banned from keeping fowl for two years. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter. Lee and Giles appealed against their sentences at Southwark crown Court on 20/3/96, both were dismissed. Mark Giles wrote a book in 1988 about working terriers.
Name – Glaister James
Address – Cockermouth
Convicted – 19/8/85
Fine – £1,000 and £160 costs
Magistrates – Bridgnorth
Age/D.O.B – 45
Also convicted – Terrance Richmond, George Meakin, Peter Davies, Michael Theckston, Robert Pinches, Mervyn Humphrey and Charles Taylor
Notes – Admitted ill-treating animals, assisting at a cockfight, using premises for cockfighting and possessing spurs and spur pants. They were all caught at The Wheatland F.H. kennels in Eardington near Bridgnorth on 16/6/85 after a raid by the RSPCA and the police. They also found six dead birds and 21 still alive, but were injured. Defended by Anthony Jamison.
Name – Gregory John
Address – Winchester Road, Ash
Convicted – 13/7/90
Fine – £500 and £100 costs
Magistrates – Farnham
Age/D.O.B – 47
Also convicted – Patrick Young and a juvenile
Notes – Found guilty of procuring birds for the purpose of fighting. They were caught on 27/3/90 after a policeman on his beat in Winchester Road, Ash crawled through some bushes to catch them red-handed. They claimed one of the birds was a hen and they were just mating. Mr Young had given the juvenile a lift back from Guildford market were he had just bought the hen, he then invited the boy to look at his birds. Defended by Miss Louise D’Arcy. The juvenile was to be sentenced on 3/8/90.
Address – Calvert Terrace, Murton, Durham
Convicted – 5/7/96
Fine – 8 weeks
Magistrates – Durham
Age/D.O.B – 42
Also convicted – William Ross, Joseph Kelbie, Thomas Waugh, David Littley and John Bell
Notes – Admitted to assisting in cockfighting. They were all caught on March 19 1995 in a shed on Ross’s allotment. When the RSPCA had raided the shed they found two cockerels with sharp spurs attached to their legs fighting in a ring with about twelve men were seated around it. They also found 14 dead and 9 injured birds. All defended by Paul Williams. A judge has thrown out appeals against a life ban on owning birds. Judge Richard Lowden sitting at Durham Crown Court on 11/10/96 refused the appeal of John Hawthorn (42) of Calvert Terrace, Murton, County Durham, adding “The purpose of the sentence is to discourage you from ever again participating in the obscene and degrading pastime of watching animals inflict pain on each other”. Appeals from the other two men William Ross (49) a butcher of Sharon Avenue, Kelloe, Durham City and Joseph Kelbie (34) formally of Cottingly Springs, Leeds, now of Turney Lane, Newark, Nottinghamshire were rejected formally by the judge.
Name – Hill Paul
Address – Richmond Road, Thurnscoe, near Rotherham
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 35
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Pleaded guilty to attending a cockfight in the first week of the trial. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Name – Humphreys Mervyn
Address – Trefor, Llangollen
Convicted – 19/8/85
Fine – £250 and £80 costs
Magistrates – Bridgnorth
Age/D.O.B – 48
Also convicted – Terrance Richmond, James Glaister, George Meakin, Peter Davies, Michael Theckston, Robert Pinches and Charles Taylor
Notes – Admitted assisting at a cockfight. They were all caught at The Wheatland F.H. kennels in Eardington near Bridgnorth on 16/6/85 after a raid by the RSPCA and the police. They also found six dead birds and 21 still alive, but were injured. Defended by Anthony Jamison.
Address – Adversane Caravan park, Billingshurst
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – £300 and £200 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 31
Also convicted – John Lee, Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of attending a cockfight. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter.
Address – Tony Lane, Newark (used to live at Cottingly Springs, Leeds)
Convicted – 5/7/96
Fine – 10 weeks
Magistrates – Durham
Age/D.O.B – 34
Also convicted – William Ross, John Hawthorn, Thomas Waugh, David Littley and John Bell
Notes – Admitted assisting in cockfighting. He also took his eight year old son to watch. They were all caught on March 19 1995 in a shed on Ross’s allotment. When the RSPCA had raided the shed they found two cockerels with sharp spurs attached to their legs fighting in a ring with about twelve men were seated around it. They also found 14 dead and 9 injured birds. All defended by Paul Williams. A judge has thrown out appeals against a life ban on owning birds. Judge Richard Lowden sitting at Durham Crown Court on 11/10/96 refused the appeal of John Hawthorn (42) of Calvert Terrace, Murton, County Durham, adding “The purpose of the sentence is to discourage you from ever again participating in the obscene and degrading pastime of watching animals inflict pain on each other”. Appeals from the other two men William Ross (49) a butcher of Sharon Avenue, Kelloe, Durham City and Joseph Kelbie (34) formally of Cottingly Springs, Leeds, now of Turney Lane, Newark, Nottinghamshire were rejected formally by the judge.
Name – Khan Mohammad Tajh
Address – Archibald Street, Bradford
Convicted – 25/5/00
Fine – 200 hours community service and £500 costs
Magistrates – Bradford
Age/D.O.B – 44
Also accused – ?
Notes – On 25/5/00 a quail-fighting organiser was successfully prosecuted by the RSPCA after unwittingly showing undercover newspaper reporters how he prepared birds to fight. Bradford magistrates court heard how Mohammad Tajh Khan (44) of Archibald Street, Bradford would sharpen the birds’ beaks with a razor and pluck their feathers. Khan pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering and one charge under the Cockfighting Act 1952. He was banned for life from having custody of birds, ordered to undertake 200 hours community service and pay £500 court costs.
Name – King Michael
Address – Connors Caravan Park, Kingston Bagpuize Road
In court on 16/7/92
Found not guilty
Magistrates – Witney
Age/D.O.B –
Also accused – Derek Anderson, Kenneth Osbourne, Theodore Loveridge and Frank Loveridge
Notes – Cleared of being present at a cockfight. The court heard that two passers by had seen a group of men standing around some boards of wood, which had two cockerels fighting behind. The incident took place on 12/4/92 in a layby on Alvescot Road.
Address – Jenningtree Way, Belvedere
Convicted – 20/3/96
Fine – 3 months and £600 costs
Magistrates – Southwark
Age/D.O.B – 48
Also convicted – Mark Giles, Belcher Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Geoffrey Jones, Raymond Clayden, Belcher Barnard, Terrance Ball, William Field, Seamen Anderson, John Clark, John Fuller, William Anderson, Paul Hill and Malcolm Cooper.
Notes – Found guilty of six offenses of cruelty, causing suffering to hens, procuring the birds to fight and using his shed as a venue for cockfighting, he was also banned from keeping any animal for five years. When 40 police and RSPCA officers stormed the shed a Belvedere in April 1995, they found 15 men and a 16 year old youth watching two birds fighting. Four other birds lay dead on the ground. All the men tried to escape, but were tracked down by police dogs and a police helicopter. Lee and Giles appealed against their sentences at Southwark crown Court on 20/3/96, both were dismissed.
Name – Lee Walter
Address – Hadfield Road, Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury
Convicted – 27/11/85
Fine – £400 and £100 costs
Magistrates – Rossendale
Age/D.O.B – 32
Also convicted – Albert Radcliffe, Raymond Walker and Peter Morton
Notes – Found guilty of using premises for cockfighting. They were all caught at High Barn Farm on 4/5/85 following a raid by the RSPCA.
Name – Littley David
Address – Lichfield Road, West Cornforth
Convicted – 5/7/96
Fine – £200 and £150 costs
Magistrates – Durham
Age/D.O.B – 34
Also convicted – William Ross, Joseph Kelbie, John Hawthorn, Thomas Waugh and John Bell
Notes – Admitted being present at a cockfight. They were all caught on March 19 1995 in a shed on Ross’s allotment. When the RSPCA had raided the shed they found two cockerels with sharp spurs attached to their legs fighting in a ring with about twelve men were seated around it. They also found 14 dead and 9 injured birds. All defended by Paul Williams.
Name – Loveridge Frank
Address – Connors Caravan Park, Kingston Bagpuize Road
In court on 16/7/92
Found not guilty
Magistrates – Witney
Age/D.O.B –
Also accused – Derek Anderson, Kenneth Osbourne, Theodore Loveridge and Michael King
Notes – Cleared of being present at a cockfight and assisting at a cockfight. The court heard that two passers by had seen a group of men standing around some boards of wood, which had two cockerels fighting behind. The incident took place on 12/4/92 in a layby on Alvescot Road.
Name – Loveridge Theodore
Address – Connors Caravan Park, Kingston Bagpuize Road
In court on 16/7/92
Found not guilty
Magistrates – Witney
Age/D.O.B –
Also accused – Derek Anderson, Kenneth Osbourne, Michael King and Frank Loveridge
Notes – Cleared of being present at a cockfight and assisting at a cockfight. The court heard that two passers by had seen a group of men standing around some boards of wood, which had two cockerels fighting behind. The incident took place on 12/4/92 in a layby on Alvescot Road.
Address – Astley, Manchester
Convicted – 19/8/85
Fine – £1,000 and £160 costs
Magistrates – Bridgnorth
Age/D.O.B – 39
Also convicted – Terrance Richmond, James Glaister, Peter Davies, Michael Theckston, Robert Pinches, Mervyn Humphreys and Charles Taylor
Notes – Admitted ill-treating animals, assisting at a cockfight, using premises for cockfighting and possessing spurs and spur pants. They were all caught at The Wheatland F.H. kennels in Eardington near Bridgnorth on 16/6/85 after a raid by the RSPCA and the police. They also found six dead birds and 21 still alive, but were injured. Defended by Anthony Jamison.
Name – Morton Peter
Address – Top Barn Lane, Newchurch, Rossendale
In court 27/11/85
Found not guilty
Magistrates – Rossendale
Age/D.O.B – 31
Also convicted – Albert Radcliffe, Raymond Walker and Walter Lee
Notes – They were all caught at High Barn Farm on 4/5/85 following a raid by the RSPCA.
Address – The Layby, Alvescot Road, Carterton
In court on 16/7/92
Found not guilty
Magistrates – Witney
Age/D.O.B –
Also accused – Derek Anderson, Theodore Loveridge, Michael King and Frank Loveridge
Notes – Cleared of being present at a cockfight. The court heard that two passers by had seen a group of men standing around some boards of wood, which had two cockerels fighting behind. The incident took place on 12/4/92 in a layby on Alvescot Road.
Address – 1 Munson’s Place, Feltwell
In court on 22/5/92
Case thrown out on a technicality
Magistrates – Swaffham
Age/D.O.B – 31
Also accused – William Sargeant, Benjamin Blowes, John Cavey
Notes – Palmer was accused of four offenses; causing and being present during a cockfight, using his home partly for cockfighting and causing unnecessary suffering. The offence was alleged to have taken place on 23/5/91 at Palmers house. Their barristers claimed the fight had actually taken place on 17/5/91. Under the current law the court action against the men was three days over the six month deadline.
Name – Pinches Robert
Address – Wordsley, Stourbridge
Convicted – 19/8/85
Fine – £250 and £80 costs
Magistrates – Bridgnorth
Age/D.O.B – 39
Also convicted – Terrance Richmond, James Glaister, George Meakin, Peter Davies, Michael Theckston, Mervyn Humphreys and Charles Taylor
Notes – Admitted assisting at a cockfight. They were all caught at The Wheatland F.H. kennels in Eardington near Bridgnorth on 16/6/85 after a raid by the RSPCA and the police. They also found six dead birds and 21 still alive, but were injured. Defended by Anthony Jamison.
Address – High Barn Farm, Whitworth, near Rochdale
Convicted – 27/11/85
Fine – 3 month suspended sentence an £600 costs
Magistrates – Rossendale
Age/D.O.B – 44
Also convicted – Raymond Walker, Peter Morton and Walter Lee
Notes – Found guilty of possessing a cock pit, causing unnecessary suffering to a Staffordshire bull terrier, cruelly ill-treating domestic fowl, possessing appliances in connection with the fighting of domestic fowl, using premises for cockfighting and assisting at a cockfight. They were all caught at High Barn Farm on 4/5/85 following a raid by the RSPCA.
Name – Richmond Terrance (Huntsman with Wheatland Fox Hounds)
Address – Old Park Farm, Norton, Bridgnorth
Convicted – 19/8/85
Fine – £1,500 and £160 costs
Magistrates -Bridgnorth
Age/D.O.B – 43
Also convicted – James Glaister, George Meakin, Peter Davies, Michael Theckston, Robert Pinches, Mervyn Humphrey and Charles Taylor
Notes – Richmond admitted assisting at a cockfight, using premises for cockfighting, permitting their use, possessing a cockpit, possessing spurs and causing cruelty to animals. They were all caught at The Wheatland F.H. kennels in Eardington near Bridgnorth on 16/6/85 after a raid by the RSPCA and the police. They also found six dead birds and 21 still alive, but were injured. Defended by Anthony Jamison.
Name – Ross William (Butcher)
Address – Sharron Avenue, Kelloe, Durham
Convicted – 5/7/96
Fine – 4 months
Magistrates – Durham
Age/D.O.B – 49
Also convicted – Joseph Kelbie, John Hawthorn, Thomas Waugh, David Littley and John Bell
Notes – William Ross admitted cruelty to a cockerel by causing it to fight, permitting premises to be used for cockfighting and possessing equipment for cockfighting. They were all caught on March 19 1995 in a shed on Ross’s allotment. When the RSPCA had raided the shed they found two cockerels with sharp spurs attached to their legs fighting in a ring with about twelve men were seated around it. They also found 14 dead and 9 injured birds. All defended by Paul Williams.
A judge has thrown out appeals against a life ban on owning birds. Judge Richard Lowden sitting at Durham Crown Court on 11/10/96 refused the appeal of John Hawthorn (42) of Calvert Terrace, Murton, County Durham, adding “The purpose of the sentence is to discourage you from ever again participating in the obscene and degrading pastime of watching animals inflict pain on each other”. Appeals from the other two men William Ross (49) a butcher of Sharon Avenue, Kelloe, Durham City and Joseph Kelbie (34) formally of Cottingly Springs, Leeds, now of Turney Lane, Newark, Nottinghamshire were rejected formally by the judge.
Address – Plymouth
In court on 22/5/92
Case thrown out on a technicality
Magistrates – Swaffham
Age/D.O.B – 40
Also accused – Brian Palmer, Benjamin Blowes and John Cavey
Notes – Sargeant was accused of causing and being present at a cockfight. The offence was alleged to have taken place on 23/5/91 at Palmers house. Their barristers claimed the fight had actually taken place on 17/5/91. Under the current law the court action against the men was three days over the six month deadline.
Address – Bayton, Kidderminster
Convicted – 19/8/85
Fine – £250 and £80 costs
Magistrates – Bridgnorth
Age/D.O.B – 19
Also convicted – Terrance Richmond, James Glaister, George Meakin, Peter Davies, Michael Theckston, Robert Pinches and Mervyn Humphreys
Notes – Admitted assisting at a cockfight. They were all caught at The Wheatland F.H. kennels in Eardington near Bridgnorth on 16/6/85 after a raid by the RSPCA and the police. They also found six dead birds and 21 still alive, but were injured. Defended by Anthony Jamison.
Name – Theckston Michael
Address – Tyldesley, Manchester
Convicted – 19/8/85
Fine -£500 and £120 costs
Magistrates – Bridgnorth
Age/D.O.B – 41
Also convicted – Terrance Richmond, James Glaister, George Meakin, Peter Davies, Robert Pinches, Mervyn Humphreys and Charles Taylor
Notes – Admitted assisting at a cockfight and using premises for cockfighting. They were all caught at The Wheatland F.H. kennels in Eardington near Bridgnorth on 16/6/85 after a raid by the RSPCA and the police. They also found six dead birds and 21 still alive, but were injured. Defended by Anthony Jamison.
Address – The Pheasantry, Studley Park, Ripon
In court 27/11/85
Found not guilty
Magistrates – Rossendale
Age/D.O.B – 38
Also convicted – Albert Radcliffe, Peter Morton and Walter Lee
Notes – They were all caught at High Barn Farm on 4/5/85 following a raid by the RSPCA.
Name – Waugh Thomas
Address – Harelaw Gardens, Catchgate, Annfield Plain
Convicted – 5/7/96
Fine – £200 and £150 costs
Magistrates – Durham
Age/D.O.B – 32
Also convicted – William Ross, Joseph Kelbie, John Hawthorn, David Littley and John Bell
Notes – Admitted to being present at a cockfight. They were all caught on March 19 1995 in a shed on Ross’s allotment. When the RSPCA had raided the shed they found two cockerels with sharp spurs attached to their legs fighting in a ring with about twelve men were seated around it. They also found 14 dead and 9 injured birds. All defended by Paul Williams.
Address – New Acres Park, Stovolds Hill, Dunsfold
Convicted – 13/7/90
Fine – £500 and £100 costs
Magistrates – Farnham
Age/D.O.B – 34
Also convicted – John Gregory and a juvenile
Notes – Found guilty of procuring birds for the purpose of fighting. They were caught on 27/3/90 after a policeman on his beat in Winchester Road, Ash crawled through some bushes to catch them red-handed. They claimed one of the birds was a hen and they were just mating. Mr Young had given the juvenile a lift back from Guildford market were he had just bought the hen, he then invited the boy to look at his birds. Defended by Miss Louise D’Arcy. The juvenile was to be sentenced on 3/8/90.