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Three convicted over dog fighting Three convicted over dog fighting
(31 minutes later)
Three people have been found guilty of being involved in one of Europe's largest dog-fighting syndicates. Three people have been convicted of a series of offences, following a BBC investigation into one of Europe's largest dog-fighting syndicates.
Mother-of-three Claire Parker, 44, of Lincolnshire, and Mohammed Farooq, 33, of Birmingham, were convicted at Lincoln Magistrates' Court. Claire Parker, 44, from Lincolnshire, Mohammed Farooq, 33, from Birmingham, and a 17-year-old boy were convicted at Lincoln Magistrates' Court.
A boy, 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also found guilty for his part in the syndicate which had links to a gang in Northern Ireland. The RSPCA said it was one of the biggest cases of dog-fighting it had prosecuted.
The convictions follow an investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme.The convictions follow an investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme.
The charges followed the programme's probe into links between a dog-fighter and the gang in Northern Ireland, with paramilitary connections, who supplied illegal US pit bull dogs and travelled to fights as far away as Finland.
'Unnecessary suffering''Unnecessary suffering'
They were charged following the programme's probe into links between a dog-fighter and the gang in Northern Ireland, with paramilitary connections, who supplied illegal US pit bull dogs and travelled to fights as far away as Finland. Parker, a mother of three of Kexby Lane, Kexby, was found guilty of holding a fight in the garage at her home, which she shared with her husband John Parker. He has since died in prison.
Parker, of Kexby Lane, Kexby, was found guilty of holding a fight in the garage at her home, which she shared with her husband, John Parker. He has since died in prison.
She was found guilty of being present at a dog-fight, keeping a premises for dog-fighting and possessing three pit bull dogs. She denied all the charges.She was found guilty of being present at a dog-fight, keeping a premises for dog-fighting and possessing three pit bull dogs. She denied all the charges.
Dog-fighting is a barbaric and cruel so-called sport which belongs in the Dark Ages Chief inspector Ian Briggs, RSPCADog-fighting is a barbaric and cruel so-called sport which belongs in the Dark Ages Chief inspector Ian Briggs, RSPCA
Mohammed Farooq, 33, of Daniels Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, was found guilty on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and possessing training equipment for dog-fighting.Mohammed Farooq, 33, of Daniels Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, was found guilty on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and possessing training equipment for dog-fighting.
The 17-year-old was convicted on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and keeping dog-fighting equipment.The 17-year-old was convicted on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and keeping dog-fighting equipment.
Both he and Farooq earlier admitted owning a banned pit bull.Both he and Farooq earlier admitted owning a banned pit bull.
They will be sentenced on 25 September.They will be sentenced on 25 September.
The RSPCA said it was one of the biggest cases of dog-fighting it had ever prosecuted.
Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA's special operations unit, said: "Dog-fighting is a barbaric and cruel so-called sport which belongs in the Dark Ages and horrific suffering is caused to the dogs involved.Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA's special operations unit, said: "Dog-fighting is a barbaric and cruel so-called sport which belongs in the Dark Ages and horrific suffering is caused to the dogs involved.
"Those that continue to pursue this activity should understand that the RSPCA and the police will continue to bring those responsible before the courts.""Those that continue to pursue this activity should understand that the RSPCA and the police will continue to bring those responsible before the courts."