A former school classroom assistant has been jailed for six months after being convicted of dog fighting offences. Andrew Crowe, 36, of Cambridge, was sentenced by a district judge at Cambridge Magistrates Court.
His cousin, Glenn Brown, 28, also of Cambridge, was ordered to carry out 240 hours community punishment after being convicted of similar offences. District Judge Graham Parkinson heard at a trial earlier this month how dog fights featuring pitbull terriers called Too Bad and Scooby were staged in Crowe's garage.
The offences came to light when police and RSPCA inspectors raided the den in May last year. They found ropes suspended on strings used for strengthening the dogs jaws, a treadmill and "breaking sticks" used for prizing the animals apart.
The District Judge said Crowe, who at the time of the offences was a learning support assistant in a Cambridge secondary school was the more serious offender and had to be jailed.
After the hearing RSPCA inspector Chris Nice said: "We believe the sentences were commensurate with the offences. I think this sends out the right message to those involved in illegal dog fighting. This is an horrendous activity. It is cruel to animals. It causes serious injury and at times death. It is a problem that is still scattered around the country and we consider it to be priority."
A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said Crowe had now been sacked from his job.
In mitigation, Mr George Speed for Crowe, said: "He is not simply a yob excited by fighting. He has knowledge of dogs. He has great remorse for what he has done." References | Ananova |
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