Dog fighter walks free from court because he’s due to become a FATHER

Kerry Evans convicted over Pit Bull Terrier 'dog fighting' One of the Pit Bull Terrier type dogs seized by the RSPCA Pit Bull Terriers are a banned breed in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 A Merthyr Tydfil man has been given a suspended jail term after he was convicted of keeping Pit …

Father and sons plead guilty to dog fighting charges

A father and two sons from east Belfast have pleaded guilty to charges linked to animal cruelty and animal fighting. Jeremiah Kirkwood (43) and his sons Christopher (23) and Wayne (20), who are all from Island Street, appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday. All three originally faced a total of 15 …

Do you know any of these scum?

The RSPCA are keen to speak to them in connection with ongoing investigations into animal cruelty in North East Lincolnshire, after these photographs were found among thousands used to convict a Grimsby trio. As reported, Liam Ardito, 33, of Newbury Avenue, Great Coates, Gary Cannon, 27, of Alfred Bannister Mews, Laceby, and Mark Smith, 53 …

Guilty of cockfighting

RSPCA chiefs fear middle class professionals such as doctors and dentists are betting on illegal cockfights, it emerged today. They raised concerns about the growing trend after raiding two farms where inspectors found 500 birds including 97 mature fighting cocks. Mark Giles and his son, also called Mark, have pleaded guilty to animal cruelty at …

Family in court for dog fighting

SIX members of the same family appeared in court on Thursday as part of a police investigation into suspected animal cruelty and illegal dog fighting. Jerimiah Samuel and Cathy Kirkwood, both aged 41 and from Parkgate Crescent, Belfast, face a series of charges following raids on properties in the city. Their sons Gary Kirkwood, 18, …

Rural gangs linked to drug operations

Poaching and hare coursing gangs often linked with major drugs operations are behind most crimes against wildlife. In Cumbria last year, 363 wildlife crimes were reported to the police and of those 211 involved poaching, hare coursing and lamping – hunting animals at night with high-powered lights. In one incident at Sandysyke near Longtown, three …

Dog fight pair from Chesham jailed

TWO Chesham men have been jailed and given a lifetime ban from keeping animals after admitting a series of offences related to illegal dog fighting. Javed Jahangir and Sajid Mahmood were both caged for 20 weeks at Reading Magistrates' Court for offences the RSPCA described as "one of the most premeditated and barbaric forms of …

Leader of illegal blood-sports ring gets life ban on keeping animals

THE leader of an illegal badger baiting ring has been banned from owning dogs for life after being convicted under new animal cruelty laws. Andrew Mullen was found to have a haul of photographs showing images of dogs fighting badgers, foxes and deer when his home was raided by police and animal welfare officers following …

Dog-fighting father and son given prison sentences

A father and son from Oxfordshire have received prison sentences for owning and training dogs for illegal fighting. Ian Draper, 47, of Sylvester Close, Burford and Danny Draper, 25, of Witney had admitted several charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The pair were caught in a covert inquiry by the RSPCA in 2010 …

Cotswolds villagers ‘organised illegal dogfights

Members of a dog-fighting ring today admitted starving bull terriers to make them more bloodthirsty. Two women and two men are accused of chaining dogs to treadmills - often in complete darkness - and forcing them to run for hours to lose weight. The dogs were kept in squalid conditions and were so starved of …