CONVICTED (2017) | Mohammed Asab, born June 1966, of 37 Water Lane, Ilford IG3 9HN; Mohammed Arif, born c. 1974, of 59 Fairfield Road, Ilford IG1 2JL; Akhtar Hussain, born c. 1970, of 4A Greenhill Grove, London E12 6BA; Mehtab Ahmed, born c. 1976, of 8 Celebration Way, London E4 9AF; Altaf Hussain, born c. 1963, of 30 Parkstone Road, Coventry CV6 7AL
Mohammed Asab, the ring-leader of a Pakistani cockfighting gang based in Ilford, East London, was found guilty of causing an animal fight to take place, keeping and training an animal for use in connection with an animal fight, and keeping premises for use for an animal fight.
Mohammed Arif, Akhtar Hussain, Mehtab Ahmed and Altaf Hussain were all found guilty of being present at an animal fight involving cockerels.
Disturbing footage seized by police and produced in court showed bloodied birds being trained by the gang. In the video, shown below, Asab is seen training and breeding cockerels to fight and even referred to one of his hens as a producer of ‘champions’.
Cockerels armed with sharpened spurs were pitched against one another in an outbuilding where the group had specifically designed a ring compete with seats around the edge and fake grass in the centre.
When police raided the fighting pit they found fresh cockerel blood splattered across white walls and found several distressed birds flapping around inside.
A blood-stained towel was also found and the cockerels were found to have wounds including one deep cut to the neck which someone had attempted to stitch up.
A total of ten cockerels and two hens were seized by police and animal welfare officers during the raid in January 2017.
Sentencing:
Mohammed Asab: given a 22-week suspended sentence and ordered to pay £10,000 for the long-term care of his former cockerels, now forfeited to the RSPCA, and £2,000 in legal costs. He must also pay a £150 victim surcharge, complete 200 hours community service in 12 months, and forfeit his cockfighting paraphernalia. Lifetime bird-keeping ban.
Mohammed Arif, Akhtar Hussain, Mehtab Ahmed and Altaf Hussain were each fined £1,500, plus a £85 victim surcharge, and granted community orders of 200 hours community service to be completed in 12 months.
A 17-year-old was granted conditional discharge and a fine of £180.
Why are their addresses being shown? 🤷♂️
Because animal abusers need to be watched, especially this sort of animal abuser as they are likely to do it again.