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| Version 21 | Version 22 |
|---|---|
| Dog fight gang given jail terms | Dog fight gang given jail terms |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Four people have been jailed for their part in one of Europe's largest dog-fighting syndicates. | Four people have been jailed for their part in one of Europe's largest dog-fighting syndicates. |
| Claire Parker, 44, a mother of three from Kexby, Lincolnshire, who held dog fights at her home, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison. | Claire Parker, 44, a mother of three from Kexby, Lincolnshire, who held dog fights at her home, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison. |
| Three co-defendants were jailed for between 23 and the maximum 26 weeks for animal cruelty offences. | Three co-defendants were jailed for between 23 and the maximum 26 weeks for animal cruelty offences. |
| Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard the ring was smashed after a BBC Panorama investigation. | Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard the ring was smashed after a BBC Panorama investigation. |
| Sentencing had been delayed after one of the defendants was attacked in court. | Sentencing had been delayed after one of the defendants was attacked in court. |
| Kenneth King, 35, of Main Street, Ragnall, Newark, Nottinghamshire, was struck around the head several times and left bleeding from his ear. | Kenneth King, 35, of Main Street, Ragnall, Newark, Nottinghamshire, was struck around the head several times and left bleeding from his ear. |
| They are animals used for sadistic entertainment and perverted pleasure District judge Richard Blake | They are animals used for sadistic entertainment and perverted pleasure District judge Richard Blake |
| Another person involved in the scuffle was shot with a Taser by police. | Another person involved in the scuffle was shot with a Taser by police. |
| District judge Richard Blake said: "There's widespread public objection at these sorts of offences; of the sadistic abuse of animals for entertainment. | District judge Richard Blake said: "There's widespread public objection at these sorts of offences; of the sadistic abuse of animals for entertainment. |
| "The dogs in this case are not in any way pets - they are animals used for sadistic entertainment and perverted pleasure." | "The dogs in this case are not in any way pets - they are animals used for sadistic entertainment and perverted pleasure." |
| Parker was banned from keeping animals for 10 years. | Parker was banned from keeping animals for 10 years. |
| The court found the syndicate had links to a gang in Northern Ireland, with paramilitary connections, who supplied illegal American pit bull dogs. | The court found the syndicate had links to a gang in Northern Ireland, with paramilitary connections, who supplied illegal American pit bull dogs. |
| Members of the ring attended fights as far away as Finland. | Members of the ring attended fights as far away as Finland. |
| Maximum penalty | Maximum penalty |
| Parker 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 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 had 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 had denied all the charges. |
| Gary Adamson, 38, of Ramsey Crescent, Yarm, North Yorkshire, who pleaded guilty to six charges in connection with illegal dog-fighting, was given 23 weeks in prison. | Gary Adamson, 38, of Ramsey Crescent, Yarm, North Yorkshire, who pleaded guilty to six charges in connection with illegal dog-fighting, was given 23 weeks in prison. |
| Mohammed Farooq, 33, of Daniels Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, who was found guilty on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and possessing training equipment for dog-fighting, was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 26 weeks. | Mohammed Farooq, 33, of Daniels Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, who was found guilty on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and possessing training equipment for dog-fighting, was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 26 weeks. |
| Owen Batey, 40, of Cannock Road, Middlesbrough, was given 23 weeks in jail, having admitted setting two pit bulls on each other, being present at a dog-fight and owning a pit bull. | Owen Batey, 40, of Cannock Road, Middlesbrough, was given 23 weeks in jail, having admitted setting two pit bulls on each other, being present at a dog-fight and owning a pit bull. |
| Christopher Burgess, 42, of Longstone Way, Ladybrook, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, who pleaded guilty to one charge of keeping a banned dog, received 160 hours' community service. | Christopher Burgess, 42, of Longstone Way, Ladybrook, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, who pleaded guilty to one charge of keeping a banned dog, received 160 hours' community service. |
| Both Adamson and Batey were banned from keeping animals for life. | Both Adamson and Batey were banned from keeping animals for life. |
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| Claire Marshall reports on the dog-fighting case | Claire Marshall reports on the dog-fighting case |