Tag Archives: Blackburn with Darwen

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, Pet Theft, Traveller Animal Crimes

Blackburn, Lancashire: Corallena Loveridge

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CONVICTED (2023) | Corallena Loveridge, born c. 1990, of Fowler Height Close, Blackburn BB2 4RJ – stole a family’s pet dog during a home invasion.

Drug-addicted career criminal Corallena Loveridge, whose previous convictions include shoplifting, drink-driving and outraging public decency – stole a French bulldog and sold her on for drugs money.

Loveridge, a traveller, appeared at Preston Crown Court via video link from HMP Styal, where she had been on remand for the previous four months over a bail act offence.

The persistent criminal brazenly entered a property on Moorland Avenue in Blackburn on May 9, 2021, and took the dog, called Georgia, before leaving, and selling her for drugs money.

The court heard how the owner of the home, Julie Lightbrown, had been present in the house at the time, along with her children, when Loveridge went into the property, walked upstairs where Ms Lightbrown was, had an altercation with the victim, then took the dog and left.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting said: “She put the dog in a taxi and left the property.

“In December, she then called the victim and said the dog had had puppies and was somewhere in Leeds.

“She said she would try and get the dog back but that never happened.”

A victim personal statement was read to the court, which said: “Georgia was our family pet. She was two and a half years old and was in season.

“I bought her for my children and she cost £2,500. It’s not about the value, however, it appears she was taken to be sold.

“The stress this has caused my children is huge and we are still suffering now, concerned about her welfare.

“Corallena Loveridge entered my house and took her and advised me that she would get her back but it’s not happened.”

Judge Simon Medland said: “The dog was taken to be turned into money and then turned into drugs – who knows what has happened to her now.

“There’s a considerable seriousness to this and it crosses custody threshold but it took the CPS and police a year to charge her.

“You, Corallena Loveridge must understand this behaviour is serious and has had a big impact.

“They do not know what has become of their dog, they don’t know whether she’s happy and healthy, dead, in trouble, or being used for breeding.

“This is not an offence you would have committed if you had been sober. You were intoxicated and a drug addict at the time.”

The court heard Loveridge had 15 convictions for 28 offences.

Sentencing | 14 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months; 20 rehabilitation activity days and six months of drug rehabilitation.

Lancashire Telegraph

Cats, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Blackburn, Lancashire: Sajid Hussain

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CONVICTED (2023) | Sajid Hussain, born 5 February 1972, of Ripon Street, Blackburn BB1 1TW – battered a kitten with a mop handle, causing fatal injuries.

Cat killer, drug dealer and violent criminal: Sajad Hussain from Blackburn, Lancashire
Cat killer, drug dealer and violent criminal: Sajad Hussain from Blackburn, Lancashire

Hussain, who also faced charges of dealing heroin and crack cocaine, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a cat.

The court heard the six-month-old cat, Mia, didn’t die until the following day but Husain prevented her owner – his then partner – from taking her to the vet and the pet was left to suffer through the night.

Carmel Wilde, prosecuting, said the couple had been in a relationship for four years but it had ended six months before the incident in November 2021. Hussain visited her house and was initially nice.

“That soon changed and she went to her bedroom and lie down and rest,” said Miss Wilde. “She hadn’t been out of the house for three weeks because she was suffering from depression.

“She said she loved the cat, which was called Mia, and it had helped to have it with her when she was depressed. She said the cat never left her side.”

Mia died a cruel and brutal death at the hands of evil Sajid Hussain from Blackburn
Mia died a cruel and brutal death at the hands of evil Sajid Hussain

Miss Wilde said Hussain entered the bedroom and objected to Mia being on the bed. He initially moved her to the bottom of the bed but then said he had had enough, put a lead around the cats neck and dragged her out of the room. She came back and this time he grabbed hold of her and took her out.

His partner went to the bathroom and heard the cat screaming, some banging and the defendant calling the cat a ‘little bitch’.

“The screaming went on for about 20 seconds but the banging continued,” said Miss Wilde. “She was too scared to leave the bathroom. He told her he had hit the cat with a mop, there was blood all over the place and he thought he had killed it.”

The woman found the cat with blood coming from her mouth, ears and paws. She mopped the blood from its mouth to help her breath but she was gurgling as her head flopped from side to side.

“She wanted to take the cat to the vets but he wouldn’t let her and said he would get in trouble,” said Miss Wilde. “The next morning the cat was still breathing but there came a point where that stopped and it was clearly dead.”

The woman managed to contact a friend who came round and confronted Hussain. He said it was alright because the cat would be “fine in paradise.”

The RSPCA were called and Mia was taken to Greater Manchester animal hospital where it was found she had a fractured skull and severe brain haemorrhaging. Fractured claws showed she had been fighting against the attack before falling unconscious.

The court heard Hussain’s previous convictions included one for assault in 2011 and a manslaughter conviction relating to an honour killing in Denmark in 1997.

The court was also told that Hussain has a lengthy history of drug misuse and suffers from poor mental health,

Hussain pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the cat and was sentenced to five months in jail for animal cruelty.

Sentencing | jailed for five months in respect of the animal cruelty charge in addition to 35 months for the drug crimes. Banned for life from keeping animals.

Lancashire Telegraph
LancsLive

Dogs, Serial Animal Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Blackburn, Lancashire: Ian Podmore

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CONVICTED (2023) | Ian Johnathan Podmore, born 16 May 1981, of 3 Ailsa Road, Blackburn BB1 2JL – caused the deaths of two dogs through neglect.

Serial animal abuser: Ian Podmore from Blackburn, Lancashire, UK. Pic: Facebook
Serial dog killer: Ian Podmore from Blackburn, Lancs. Pic: Facebook

Ian Podmore was prosecuted by the RSPCA in relation to a Staffordshire bull terrier named Bentley, who was found with a severe skin condition and claws so overgrown they had penetrated the pads on his feet.

Blackburn man Ian Podmore's neglected dog, Bentley
Bentley’s claws were so overgrown he struggled to walk. He was also suffering from a severe skin condition.

Blackburn Magistrates Court heard how RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald had visited Podmore’s home after the charity was contacted about concerns for Bentley’s welfare.

She said: “I was immediately struck by how thin he was and that he had an extensive skin condition and fur loss. I could also see that his claws were overgrown.

“Bentley’s skin was very red, smelly, crusty and thickened and there were sores present with extensive fur loss. His ears appeared infected.

“His claws were significantly overgrown with several so long they had pierced the pads and become embedded and infected. They were the worst I have seen on a dog in my 20-year career.

“His skin condition had caused what fur he had to contain head to toe scab-like patches giving him the appearance of being mottled.

“Ian Podmore stated he had owned the dog for about 18 months to two years and that he was not on any veterinary treatment.

“He showed me some over the counter dog shampoo he said he had tried using but it had not resolved the problem.”

Blackburn man Ian Podmore's neglected dog, Bentley

Bentley was taken to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for immediate veterinary treatment.

His claws were causing him so much discomfort that he had to be sedated so he could be examined and treated without causing further pain or trauma.

Podmore – who had received a written caution in 2019 in relation to another dog – was advised that he would need to be interviewed in relation to animal welfare offences and subsequently signed Bentley over into the charity’s care.

A vet from Greater Manchester Animal Hospital gave evidence to the court.

She said: “Given the severity of Bentley’s condition on presentation, in my opinion he will have suffered for many days, as a minimum, likely longer.

“The low body weight will have taken many days or possibly weeks to have developed and would have left him experiencing weakness and debilitation.

“Ultimately Bentley had endured suffering unnecessarily. Regardless of the cause of the emaciation, ear disease, eye disease and skin disease and whether treatable or not, veterinary treatment should have been sought much earlier in this case.”

Despite extensive treatment in the following weeks, Bentley’s condition was so severe that the vet said it was detrimental to his ongoing welfare and that it was in his own best interests to put him to sleep to prevent further suffering.

She said had he received appropriate treatment sooner, his condition could have been managed.

Blackburn man Ian Podmore's neglected dog, Bentley

Podmore pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to ensure the welfare of an animal.

Ian Huggan, mitigating, said his client didn’t have the strength of character to refuse when a family member asked him to take on the dog.

“He thought he could help,” said Mr Huggan.

“He was using shampoo he thought would help and feeding the dog but clearly he should have sought veterinary care.”

Passing sentence, District Judge Alexandra Preston said she had been shocked by the photographs shown to the court.

“It would have been obvious to anyone that he would have been in serious discomfort and pain,” said District Judge Preston.

“This is the second time you have had a dog that has been in a terrible state.

“You shouldn’t own dogs because you clearly don’t know how to do it properly.”

Sentencing | eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months; 13 days of rehab activities; £100 costs and £128 victim surcharge. Banned from owning dogs for 10 years.

Lancashire Telegraph
Hull Daily Mail
Lancashire Telegraph

Cats, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Blackburn / Darwen, Lancashire: Callum Richardson and Ellen Symon

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#MostEvil | Callum Richardson, born 14 June 1999, of 111 Heatley Close, Blackburn BB2 2LR, and Ellen Jayne Symon, born 17 May 2000, of Hazel Avenue, Darwen BB3 3AJ – banned from keeping animals for life after an 8-week-old kitten in their care died and two other cats were left with serious injuries.

Cat killers Callum Richardson and Ellen Symon from Lancashire. Picture: Facebook.

The pair both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the three cats identified as black and white male cat called Lucifer, a female grey and white kitten called Coco, and female tabby and white cat named Ellie.

Cruelty victim
Richardson and Symon left a dead kitten in a shoe box after throwing her against a wall

The court heard how Coco was found dead in Heatley Close, Blackburn, following a blunt force trauma incident, while Lucifer was found to have 13 fractured ribs, a fractured leg and a fractured cheekbone.

Ellie was also found unable to walk as she had a broken leg.

Serial cat abuser Callum Richardson from Blackburn, Lancs. Picture: Facebook.
Callum Richardson is banned from keeping animals for life after also inflicting injuries on two other cats

The RSPCA were called to investigate after a cat charity reported they had taken five cats into their care at the owner’s request – and some had injuries which suggested deliberate harm had been caused to the pets.
Inspector Danni Jennings collected the cats on November 4, 2020, and took them to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for veterinary attention as two cats were struggling to walk and another cat called Ellie had a broken right front leg.

Cat killers Callum Richardson and Ellen Symon from Lancashire. Picture: Facebook.

The couple later said in interviews Ellie sustained a fractured front leg after she was struck with a sweeping brush during a domestic argument.
A leg amputation had to be carried out on Ellie who recovered from her injuries, but tests failed to establish what was causing the two other pets to lose their balance. A severe neurological condition was suspected but the cause was unknown.

Victims of cruelty
Another cat owned by the pair was found to have 13 fractured ribs, a fractured leg and a fractured cheekbone while a third cat was unable to walk as she had a broken leg.

A vet decided both pets had to be euthanised to end their suffering. The other two cats that were removed from the couple were treated for fleas and worms and were returned to full health.

Cat killers Callum Richardson and Ellen Symon from Lancashire. Picture: Facebook.

Two months later, on January 26, 2021, the RSPCA were called to reports that a kitten called Coco had been killed at Heatley Close where the couple were living together.

The kitten’s body was found in a shoe box in the home and both defendants accused each other of killing the eight-week old pet by throwing her against a wall.

Serial cat abuser Callum Richardson from Blackburn, Lancs. Picture: Facebook.

A post mortem showed this was probably the cause of death – but she had a number of blunt force injuries suggesting she had been thrown more than once.

Then, while the investigation continued, in August 2021 the RSPCA was called to reports the couple had another cat in their care, called Lucifer, who appeared severely injured and was screaming in pain.

Serial cat abuser Callum Richardson from Blackburn, Lancs. Picture: Facebook.

The one-year-old feline was collected by the RSPCA and rushed to the Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where he was discovered to have a fractured right hind leg, multiple historic fractures of the cheekbone and 13 fractures of the ribs.

Lucifer has since recovered after having his leg pinned and had to have two months of cage rest.

Serial cat abuser Callum Richardson from Blackburn, Lancs. Picture: Facebook.

An independent veterinary expert told the court: “In my opinion Lucifer was caused to suffer as a consequence of physical abuse on a number of occasions.

“Suffering would have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and pain on at least three occasions within six weeks.

“The fractured right forelimb evident on Ellie is consistent with the injury being caused when hit with a sweeping brush as suggested in court.

“With regards Coco there appears to be no dispute that this eight week old kitten sustained injury via physical abuse by being thrown against a wall and the post.

“But the injuries sustained by this kitten are suggestive of more than one blunt force trauma having occurred and cannot be explained by being thrown against a wall on a single occasion.”

Ellie and Lucifer have since been rehomed by the RSPCA and are doing well in their new homes.

Sentencing | 18 week prison sentences, suspended for two years; 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days; £350 costs each. Lifetime ban.

Lancashire Telegraph
ITV News
LancsLive

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Blackburn, Lancashire: Dominic Hawryluk

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CONVICTED (2022) | Dominic Vincent Hawryluk, born 15 December 1984, of Avon Close, Blackburn BB2 2ND – shut a starving dog in a room without food or water.

Animal abuser Dominic Hawryluk. Picture: Facebook.
Dominic Hawryluk shut a dog in a room without food and water and left her to rot.

Akita Mika was left to fester in her own urine and faeces before she was rescued by a kind-hearted member of the public and taken into the care of the RSPCA. However the dog’s health sadly deteriorated and a vet made the difficult decision to put her to sleep.

Mika
Akita Mika was desperately ill when rescued by professional dog groomer Alison Ryden and, very sadly, couldn’t be saved.

Blackburn magistrates heard the dog was eventually taken away by professional dog groomer Alison Ryden who threatened the owner with the police if he didn’t release the dog to her.

The court heard Dominic Vincent Hawryluk had previously received financial assistance from the RSPCA before he was warned about his care of the Mika.

Hawryluk pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to ensure the welfare of an animal.

Paul Ridehalgh, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said following the first visit to the defendant’s home an RSPCA inspector advised Hawryluk to provide the dog with a bed, fresh water and food.

He was also provided with a voucher for a vet in inspect the dog and cut her nails.

When the inspector returned a second time Mika again had no food or water, no bed and the floor of the kitchen where she was living was covered in faeces and urine and a warning notice was served.

Mr Ridehalgh said shortly after Miss Ryden, who runs Ebony Dog Grooming, received information about the dog and she went round to the house.

Animal abuser Dominic Hawryluk. Picture: Facebook.

“She looked through the window and could see the floor was covered in faeces and urine and the dog had no food or water,” said Mr Ridehalgh.

“The defendant came to the door but was reluctant to let Miss Ryden in. She threatened to call the police if he didn’t let her remove the dog and she took it to her home.”

Mika was taken to the vets where she was treated and put on intravenous drips. She was eventually signed over to the RSPCA.

When he was interviewed Hawryluk admitted he had not seen the dog for two weeks.

He accepted he had not made appropriate arrangements for the dog and said he was “disgusted” at how long he had left the dog alone in the kitchen.

Mr Ridehalgh said the dog had conjunctivitis in one eye, pressure sores, her skin was in poor condition and she was malnourished.

Gareth Price, defending, said it was a very sad set of circumstances but it had not been a deliberate attempt to mistreat the dog.

“An argument can be made that this was an incompetent carer who had his own mental health problems at the time,” said Mr Price. “He had genuine affection for the dog, which had belonged to his dad before his death, and he accepts he treated it badly towards the end.”

Mr Price said he wasn’t instructed to oppose the application for a disqualification from keeping animals.

“He hasn’t got any animals in his care and doesn’t want any, certainly in the short-term,” he added.

Inspector Nina Small, who was sent to investigate, described Mika when she first saw her at the vets.

She said: “The dog was lying down in a kennel and was on IV fluids. Her head was down and she looked extremely lethargic and weak. She had bald reddish patches to her feet, elbows and underside.

“She was able to walk a little with assistance. She had very little muscle and her skeleton was showing through thick coat. She was in an extremely poor condition.”

After the case Nina said: “Mika was taken into the care of an RSPCA branch but sadly her health deteriorated and a vet made the sad decision to put her to sleep. It was very upsetting for all involved.

“The RSPCA would always urge anyone who feels they are struggling with the care of a pet to contact us or one of the many other animal charities out there who can offer help and assistance.”

Sentencing: 12-month community order with 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement; £215 in fines costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.

Lancashire Telegraph

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Blackpool, Lancashire: Natasha Jolly

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CONVICTED (2021) | Natasha Ivy Jolly, born 29 December 1990, of 105 Ribble Road, Blackpool FY1 4AA – locked her dog in a dark stairs cupboard to starve to death

Natasha Jolly
Natasha Jolly


Natasha Jolly, who has links to Preston, Blackburn, Clitheroe and Leigh in Wigan, was disqualified from keeping animals for life after she shut her dog in an understairs cupboard and left her to die.

The RSPCA said a neighbour who was concerned about the smell coming from the flat found the female tan coloured terrier type dog, whose name was not known, deceased and covered by a sheet.

The unnamed female tan terrier was found dead covered by a sheet at Jolly's previous address in Grasmere Road, Blackpool
The unnamed female tan terrier was found dead covered by a sheet at Jolly’s previous address in Grasmere Road, Blackpool

The floor of the cupboard was covered in old dog faeces and there was no natural light or any form of appropriate bedding.

The dog was in an emaciated state with all of her bones visible and protruding.

Inspector Will Lamping, who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity, took the dog’s body to a veterinary surgeon to be examined.

The vet found no evidence of underlying disease conditions suggesting she died of starvation.

The unnamed female tan terrier was found dead covered by a sheet at Jolly's previous address in Grasmere Road, Blackpool

The post mortem revealed that the dog’s stomach contained faeces and plastic clothing tags, suggesting that she was so hungry she was eating anything she could find. The vet confirmed the dog would have suffered for a number of months.

The court heard how a witness who found the dog had been affected by their tragic discovery.

They said: “This whole incident has left me shocked and disgusted.

“I can’t imagine how this poor dog felt starving to death.

” I just can’t seem to get it out of my head”.

In passing sentence, magistrates commented: “We found this case quite distressing, involving a prolonged and deliberate act resulting in a dog starved to death”.

Inspector Lamping said: “This was a truly shocking case to investigate. It is difficult to think of the suffering that this dog went through as she laid hungry and alone in a tiny cupboard with no light until her death.

“I would urge anyone who ever finds themselves in a situation where they are struggling to feed or care for their animal, to call the RSPCA emergency line on 0300 1234 999 and we will always do our best to get help to the animal in need.”

Sentencing: 14 weeks in custody, suspended for two years; 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement; £150 costs. Lifetime disqualification order (but can appeal after 10 years).

LancashireLive
Blackpool Gazette

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Blackburn, Lancashire: Scott Hibbert

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CONVICTED (2019) | Scott Anthony Hibbert, born c. 1997, of Redlam, Blackburn BB2 – launched a brutal attack on his own dog after she had been placed in a cage in the back of a police van.

Career criminal and drug abuser Scott Hibbert from Blackburn battered his dog in the back of a police van
Loser: violent thug Scott Hibbert from Blackburn can now add animal cruelty to his long list of criminal convictions

Blackburn magistrates heard lifelong violent thug and drug addict Hibbert repeatedly kicked and punched the dog – a Staffordshire bull terrier – before swinging her by the metal chain around her neck.

He then got hold of the dog with both hands and throttled her.

The court was told a female officer who witnessed the attack said it was the most “horrific” behaviour she could imagine towards an animal.

Hibbert, who despite his young age has multiple previous convictions for violence and intimidation, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two charges of criminal damage to cars.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said the incident started at 8.30am on May 19 at an address in New Wellington Street, Blackburn.

Witnesses saw Hibbert leave the address and kick two cars. He was also seen to punch his dog before the police arrived.

“A witness said he was clearly heavily under the influence of something,” said Mrs Yates. “He was covered in blood and was placed in the back of the van with the dog. She said he was screaming in the dog’s face and she then witnessed the most horrific behaviour she could imagine.”

Mrs Yates said Hibbert punched the dog in the side, kicked it repeatedly and then swung it round by the chain.

“Just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse he picked the dog up by the throat and started to throttle it,” said Mrs Yates. “By this stage the dog, which had been agitated, was completely silent.”

The dog was eventually removed from the van.

“The officer said she had never seen such an aggressive act towards an animal in her career,” said Mrs Yates. “She said if that was how he behaved in public she couldn’t imagine how the dog was treated behind closed doors.”

Career criminal and drug abuser Scott Hibbert from Blackburn battered his dog in the back of a police van

When he was interviewed about the incident Hibbert said the officers were lying and he would never lay a finger on the dog. When the witness statements were read to him he told the officers to shut up.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client clearly had problems and could benefit from the assistance of the probation service. He said Hibbert had been drinking all night and had fallen out with his brother. As he left the house he kicked out at the cars in frustration.

“He has always tried to look after the dog as best he can,” said Mr Taylor. “It is a highly strung animal and matters were not helped when its owner was irate. What is certain is that it should never have been placed in the back of the police van with him.”

He said Hibbert was deeply ashamed of what happened next.

“He doesn’t have a clear recollection of the matter but he is deeply apologetic,” said Mr Taylor.

Sentencing: 12-month community order with 40 days of rehabilitation activity. Curfew. Total of £285 compensation and charges. Banned from keeping animals for three years (expired 2022).

Lancashire Telegraph

abattoirs / animal slaughter, Food Production

Blackburn, Lancashire: Suhayl Ali

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CONVICTED (2016) | Suhayl Ali, age unknown, of 65 East Park Road, Blackburn BB1 9DW – for the illegal slaughter of two sheep for a family celebratory feast.

A man who slaughtered two sheep for a family celebratory feast has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals.

Ali admitted killing the animals using a knife without stunning the sheep or having the necessary knowledge or skill to perform the task.

The court heard he had purchased the animals for £180 from a man he had previously met in sandwich shop, who he believed to be a farmer, in August 2015.

The court was told that Ali, who was born and raised in Blackburn, was put under pressure by his Pakistani family to slaughter the sheep when his nephew was born, as part of an Islamic tradition called Aqiqah.

The ritual involves the sacrifice of an animal when a child is born in the family, where one lamb is slaughtered for a girl and two for a boy.

Prosecutor Jack Henriques said the sheep had been slaughtered at Ali’s home, not in an approved way, and the case was very much linked with animal cruelty.

Ali’s representative said: “My client was put under some pressure from his parents and brother to carry out the slaughtering for a feast following the birth of his brother’s son.

“This would usually be carried out in Pakistan, where his family are from, and my client had no idea that this was not allowed in the UK.

“He is deeply ashamed to have been sat in the courtroom, and had he known that it was not allowed, he would not have done it.

“He was doing this for a celebratory feast as part of his culture, not for profit or sport, or anything of that nature.

“He is a good man who cares for both his parents, who are both in poor health, and his wife and children. This will not happen again.”

The chairman of the magistrates said: “We do believe this man was put under some pressure but has intentionally caused harm to both the animals and the environment.

“Taking into account that he had no previous convictions, we have decided to issue an £800 fine for causing unnecessary suffering to the animals, not stunning them, killing without an approved method and not removing specified risk materials.”

Asian Image

dog fighting, Dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Worst of the Worst

Blackburn, Lancashire: Nasar Khan

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CONVICTED (2007) | Nasar Khan, born 13/03/1982, of 12 July Street, Blackburn BB1 1SR – turned a terraced house into a training centre for ‘fighting’ dogs

Dog fighter Nasar Khan from Blackburn, Lancashire

Khan pleaded guilty to eight charges of owning fighting dogs and one of allowing one of the dogs to be in a public place without a muzzle or lead.

Police found the nine illegal, unlicensed pit bull terriers chained up around a terraced property in July Street, Blackburn, after one escaped and began roaming the street.

The house, which was owned by Khan’s family, had been transformed into a pitbull training centre complete with a treadmill.

Isla Chilton, prosecuting, said: “Inside the house was a violent scene and there was blood splattered everywhere.

“There was no furniture and no lighting. It was just full of caged and chained dogs with a treadmill.

“There was a range of muscle-building tablets and powder found there.

“It is clear that these dogs had been trained to fight, a number of these dogs had relatively fresh scars on them. They are clearly not pets.

“The treadmill had a clip for the dogs’ collars which forced them to run, keeping them as fit as possible for fighting.

“These were not normal pit bulls. They were very aggressive and very dangerous.”

After police discovered the animals, which are banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, a dog warden was called and they were taken to a kennel, Ms Chilton said.

The court heard the dogs were so vicious that after they were seized one of them escaped from his cage in the back of the dog warden’s van and mauled another so badly he had to be put down. All nine dogs were later euthanised.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client was not training the dogs for fighting, but was “fascinated” by them and wanted them to grow big and muscular. He added that Khan was an “extremely stupid man” and did not realise that what he was doing was illegal.

Dog fighter Nasar Khan from Blackburn, Lancashire

District Judge Peter Ward said: “It is clear that these dogs were being trained to bite and the potential danger to the public was significant.”

Judge Ward continued: “He may have been naive but it seems to me that these are dogs that have been prepared for fighting and have been involved in some fighting.”

The cost of kenneling the dogs reached over £15,000. This was met by the taxpayer after unemployed Khan was jailed.

After the case, RSPCA spokesman Sophie Corless said: “Sadly large numbers of pitbull types are still being kept for the wrong reasons – seen as macho status symbols for the purpose of organised dog fighting.

“Either way the dog’s welfare is unnecessarily put at great risk by their owners. It is a brutal crime.”

Sentencing: four months in jail. No ban.

Lancashire Telegraph
Wildlife Guardian