Dog-fighting
Asthall, Oxfordshire, EN (UK)

Incident Date: Sunday, Nov 30, 2003

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Ian Draper

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A man was jailed for three months after he admitted dog-fighting offences. Ian Draper, 41, from Asthall, Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty to causing the fighting of dogs, and to causing suffering by permitting a dog to fight and by failing to get veterinary attention for an injured dog.

The RSPCA's undercover special operations unit, along with uniformed RSPCA inspectors and police, raided his home in December 2003 as part of Operation Gazpacho, a nationwide investigation into illegal dog fighting which spanned three years.

They discovered one dog, a pit bull terrier called Charlie, with extensive injuries to his chest and face, consistent with having been involved in a recent fight. Also found at the property were a homemade fighting pit, a treadmill (used to improve dogs' stamina), breaking sticks used to prise dogs' jaws apart, homemade veterinary kits to treat injured dogs on site and avoid arousing suspicion from vets, and books and videos on the subject.

Draper also admitted to keeping a place for dog fighting, permitting suffering by failing to exercise care and supervision and possession of 10 pit bull terriers. Banbury magistrates court banned him from keeping dogs for 10 years.

Chief inspector Mike Butcher, from the RSPCA's special operations unit, said: "We are extremely pleased at the sentence. We hope it sends a clear message to all those who continue to participate in this bloody and cruel sport that it will not be tolerated in the 21st century."

Draper had organised at least one fight in the outbuilding of his father's pub, which had tiled walls so blood could easily be washed off. Dog-fighting has been illegal in the UK since 1835.

Paddy Roche, prosecuting, said inspectors had discovered Charlie in a distressed condition and"badly scarred about the head and body". He said: "There was congealed blood around the cuts, which seemed to be very recent."

The vet who examined the dog recorded: "The distribution, number and severity of the wounds leaves me to conclude this individual was involved in an intentional dogfight."

The judge ordered that Charlie and 10 other dogs seized by the RSPCA should be put down.

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