Five men involved in an organised dogfighting enterprise were given prison sentences following a major RSPCA undercover operation.
The men received prison terms of between four and five months whilst others were handed suspended sentences, bans on possession of dogs and community service. Charges ranged from managing premises for dogfighting to possession of pitbull-type dogs, which are illegal under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The Defendants
Adio Clarke, born c. 1985, of 112 Holly Road, Handsworth, Birmingham B20 2DA: Pleaded guilty to managing premises for dogfighting, possessing 11 pitbull-type dogs, and to causing unnecessary suffering to three of the dogs.
The court heard that when police raided Clarke’s home, they found 11 pit bull terriers, all suffering injuries apparently caused by dog fights.
One of the animals was found to have 157 separate injuries. Another dog had suffered a broken pelvis and another had had one ear almost severed.
Because the dogs were held illegally, Clarke was unable to take them to a vet to receive proper treatment. Instead, he had treated the injuries himself, often inadequately or ineptly.
When officers raided Clarke’s home in April 2006, they found six pit bulls chained up in the garden, more dogs inside the house and a video showing two young dogs attacking each other in a sparring bout.
Clarke received four months in prison, and was banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.
Assam Noshad Lone, age unknown, of 115 Brockhurst Road, Birmingham B36 8JE: Found guilty of possessing two pitbull-type dogs. Received four months prison (suspended for one year), £1200 costs, five-year ban on owning dogs, 120 hour community punishment order.
Amar Ali, born c. 1981, of 89 Edgebaston Road, Smethwick B66 4LF: Pleaded guilty to 12 charges of possession of pitbull-type dogs.
The court heard that police found 16 dogs, including 12 pit bull terriers, and dog fighting paraphernalia when they targeted Ali’s home in 2006.
The garden of the property had been divided into three sections and was devoted to pit bulls, who were given their own kennels and runs.
The equipment seized included “flirt poles”, used to make the animals jump to strengthen their legs, and treadmill exercisers.
Medication normally only used by vets was found, along with special sticks designed to force a dog’s jaws apart.
Videos showing dog fighting in Pakistan and Croatia were also discovered by police, along with dog fighting magazines.
Ali received 20 weeks in prison, suspended for one year, 10-year ban on possession of dogs, and 150 hours community service. More on him here.
Mir Dawood, born c. 1979, of Anglesey Street, Lozells, Birmingham B19 pleaded guilty to owning one pitbull-type dog, and breaching a ban on possession of dogs.
Dawood’s home was raided in the early hours of April 4, 2006 as part of a larger citywide police operation.
Officers found four kennels with runs in the back garden, in an area which had been gated off, one of which contained a pitbull terrier which was aged between one and three years.
Along with dog leads and food a treadmill was also found, used for exercising the dog, he said.
Dawood pleaded guilty on the basis that the animal belonged to his older brother, who lived with their mother.
He said Dawood was looking after the animal because their mother did not like dogs.
Dawood was banned in 2001 for ten years from keeping dogs when he was found in possession of a pitbull terrier, so was well aware of the danger the breed presented.
Dawood received four months in prison and disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.
Kamran Iqbal of Sandbourne Road, Alum Rock, Birmingham B8 3NT: Found guilty of possessing a pitbull-type dog and causing unnecessary suffering to that dog. Received five months in prison and a five-year ban on keeping dogs, plus forfeiture of that dog and associated equipment.
Mohammed Shazad, born c. 1982, of Holly Road, Handsworth, Birmingham B20 pleaded guilty to three charges owning pitbull-type dogs.
Shazad, who went on to be jailed for 10 years in 2019 for cocaine dealing, received a four-month sentence for each offence, to run concurrently, a five-year disqualification for keeping dogs and forfeiture of all items seized.
Wasim Azam, born c. 1983 of 143 Bevington Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6HS: Pleaded guilty to owning two pitbull-type dogs. Received four months in prison, disqualified from keeping dogs for five years, plus forfeiture of associated equipment.
Operation Lace was a major investigation into dogfighting in the Birmingham area conducted on 4 April 2006 by the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU), West Midlands Police and RSPCA inspectors.
It followed the discovery of a dogfight in the Alum Road area of Birmingham in February 2006*.
During the operation 51 dogs (including 45 pitbull-type dogs) were seized and a number of items including treadmills (pictured below), a video, veterinary kits, breaking sticks and other dog fighting paraphernalia were taken away.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Mike Butcher of the SOU said: “This was a complete dogfighting enterprise – they had a venue, and they bred, sold and fought dogs. We’re delighted that the courts have recognised the severity of these offences and hope it gives a hard message to anyone else engaged in what is an appallingly cruel practice.
“This country banned dogfighting more than 150 years ago because it was barbaric, but still some people seem to get their kicks from seeing two animals rip each other to pieces. We shall fight on to ensure these people are stopped.
“We’d like to thank West Midlands Police for their help and co-operation in this case, and we will continue to work closely with all authorities to stop this abhorrent practice.”