Four people have been convicted of helping run a “cruel” international dog fighting ring that resulted in the death of one of the animals.
Warning: This article contains images of dogs fighting
Police discovered four dogs at a home in Chigwell, Essex, owned by Philip Harris Ali, known in dog fighting circles as “Dr Death”.
Three dogs were found in a kennel in the garden of Ali’s home in Chigwell, Essex. Police also found a pet dog inside the house. Image source: RSPCA/PA
One of the animals had scars and scratches on its face, and police also seized Ali’s phone, which contained a gold mine of evidence, including graphic videos and images of dog fights and match reports.
The 67-year-old recorded hours of WhatsApp voice notes on the device describing fight plans, which also included information related to dogfighting travel plans, as well as information about training regimes and injuries.
Dog fighting paraphernalia was also found, including a lath grinder, two treadmills, four break rods and two flirt poles, as well as a skin stapler, IV tools, bandages, needles, steroids, antibiotics and painkillers.
The location was raided on 14 March 2022 by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Special Operations Team, a taskforce that investigates serious and organized animal crime, after a call was made to the address. Concerns expressed about the welfare of a dog.
Stills from videos deleted from Ali’s phone. Image source: RSPCA/PA
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The two dogs were impounded by the Metropolitan Police and placed into the care of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
Ian Muttit, a member of the charity’s special operations unit, said Ali mentioned prizes of £3,000 and £5,000 in a voicemail.
He said a fight in Ireland in February 2022 resulted in the death of a dog named Olivia from injuries.
He said one of the horrific fight reports showed a dog named Bonnie lost a fight within 25 minutes and suffered two possibly broken legs in the brawl that were never found.
A photo of a French dog pit taken by Ali on his phone. Image source: RSPCA/PA
The investigation led to the execution of search warrants at other properties including those of Billy and Amy Ledley, aged 38 and 39 respectively, of Teckley, Essex, and Stephen, 56, of Chigwell Brown, and a third address in Merseyside.
Sixteen dogs, including bull breeds thought to be used for fighting, were seized from the Ledley home, many of which were kept in garages in poor conditions. A dog has been seized from a property in Merseyside.
A lath grinder, veterinary kit and books on dog fighting were seized from Brown’s address, while a flirt pole, two lath grinders, weighted collars and other items were seized from the Ledleys’ property Weight training equipment, and four broken bars. There is a dog fighting pit.
A jury on Wednesday found the three men and one woman guilty of a range of offences, following a four-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
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Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Mutit said Ali’s phone was a “gold mine” of information and evidence, including “brutal dog fighting videos and images”.
He added: “Information on the phone linked most of the defendants together and we could see they were involved in at least four dog fighting events; one at Laidley’s home in Essex; one in Ireland; The game is in France and they fly to Bordeaux. The other game is in England at an unknown location.”
Ali, the Ledleys and Brown will be sentenced on June 3.
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