Fans who staged illegal cockfights banned from keeping birds 

A pair of cruel men staged illegal blood sports and posted videos of cocks fighting on Facebook – fighting to the death.

Bill Ripley and Moses Brinkley narrowly avoided prison and were given suspended jail sentences after animal inspectors uncovered evidence of their cruel cockfighting bouts on the social media.

The pair were caught by a RSPCA special operations investigation unit and police, who raided their travellers’ site in Bean, Kent, and discovered 242 birds in March of 2017.

Some of the poor animals were found to be suffering from brutal neck injuries, consistent with illegal cockfighting.

Ripley, 45, and Brinkley, 61, both admitted to five animal abuse charges each, all to do with cockfighting.

Both were sentenced at Bexleyheath Magistrates’ Court on Monday and banned from keeping game fowl for two years. 

Bill Ripley and Moses Brinkley both admitted to animal abuse charges on Monday. The two men from Bean, Kent, staged illegal to-the-death cockfights. Pictured: A bird with a severe neck injury from fighting

The pair were caught by a RSPCA special operations investigation unit and police, who raided their travellers' site in Bean, Kent, and discovered 242 birds in March of 2017 

The pair were caught by a RSPCA special operations investigation unit and police, who raided their travellers’ site in Bean, Kent, and discovered 242 birds in March of 2017 

Some of the poor animals were found to be suffering from brutal neck injuries, consistent with illegal cockfighting

Fighting birds

Some of the poor animals were found to be suffering from brutal neck injuries, consistent with illegal cockfighting

Ripley, 45, and Brinkley, 61, both admitted to five animal abuse charges each, all to do with cockfighting. Pictured: Video stills of a cockfight the men filmed

Ripley, 45, and Brinkley, 61, both admitted to five animal abuse charges each, all to do with cockfighting. Pictured: Video stills of a cockfight the men filmed

Mobile phones seized from the search site were forensically examined, uncovering messages discussing breeding and fighting cockerels, along with videos of the bloody fights

Mobile phones seized from the search site were forensically examined, uncovering messages discussing breeding and fighting cockerels, along with videos of the bloody fights

One of the caravans searched by police was decorated with hundreds of photos and paintings depicting cockfighting and officers discovered razor-sharp spurs.

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said: ‘Photos of cockerels and cockfighting adorned the walls of the caravan and it was clear to see that the defendants were obsessed with this brutal and barbaric blood sport.

‘Not only did they have photos and paintings of fights, there were also books all about it, clothing such as caps emblazoned with slogans, and even display cabinets full of spurs and muffs – all paraphernalia used for training and fighting.

‘Cockfighting wasn’t just a hobby for these men – it was clearly their life.’

A homemade booklet was also found containing information and tips on breeding and training cockerels with pictures.

Mobile phones seized from the search site were forensically examined, uncovering messages discussing breeding and fighting cockerels, along with videos of fights.

The videos showed bloody and gruesome fights between birds – some which went on to the death. 

The men's travellers' site was teaming with birds - more than 240 kept up in caravans

A cockfighting bird

The men’s travellers’ site was teaming with birds – more than 240 kept at the site 

Lamport added: 'It was clear to see that the defendants were obsessed with this brutal and barbaric blood sport'

Lamport added: ‘It was clear to see that the defendants were obsessed with this brutal and barbaric blood sport’

A homemade booklet was also found containing information and tips on breeding and training cockerels with pictures

A homemade booklet was also found containing information and tips on breeding and training cockerels with pictures

One of the videos documented a fight lasting 10 minutes, in which the birds fought until one was drenched in blood

One of the videos documented a fight lasting 10 minutes, in which the birds fought until one was drenched in blood

One of the videos documented a fight lasting 10 minutes, in which the birds fought until one was drenched in blood.

From these videos, police were able to identify the ‘venues’ and ‘fighting pits’ shown online in the fights at spots around the site.

Ripley was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison and Brinkley 10 weeks, both suspended for 12 months.

Both admitted five offences including being present at an animal fight, keeping a premises for use in an animal fight and keeping animals for use in fighting.

They won’t be allowed to keep game foul for two years and were ordered to pay £865 in costs.

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said: ‘These videos show brutal, gruesome fights where birds fight until they’re left bloodied, wounded and exhausted.’

Officials discovered cockfighting videos being posted on Facebook by ‘Shamo Bill’, who is believed to be Ripley.

RSPCA chief inspector and animal fighting expert Mike Butcher added: 'They will fight these birds to the death and if they win several fights they can quickly become a 'champion' bird - but that is short-lived'

RSPCA chief inspector and animal fighting expert Mike Butcher added: ‘They will fight these birds to the death and if they win several fights they can quickly become a ‘champion’ bird – but that is short-lived’

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said: 'Photos of cockerels and cockfighting adorned the walls of the caravan'

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said: ‘Photos of cockerels and cockfighting adorned the walls of the caravan’

There were images of people proudly holding up the fighting birds, as well as several bare-chested photos of men

There were images of people proudly holding up the fighting birds, as well as several bare-chested photos of men

There were dozens of photos in the caravans depicting the men's love of cockfighting 

There were dozens of photos in the caravans depicting the men’s love of cockfighting 

RSPCA chief inspector and animal fighting expert Mike Butcher added: ‘Usually we find these birds aren’t kept as pets.

‘They’ll be well cared for as long as they’re winning or training for a fight but as soon as they’re injured or they lose, they’ll be disposed of.

‘Sometimes fighters want to see their birds fighting one on one, one bird against another.

‘But sometimes, they’ll up the stakes to make the event more entertaining by attaching false spikes to their legs or sharpening their spurs so they become more like weapons.

‘They will fight these birds to the death and if they win several fights they can quickly become a ‘champion’ bird – but that is short-lived.

‘As soon as the title has gone they are worthless to their owner.’ 

From these videos on Facebook, police were able to identify the 'venues' and 'fighting pits' shown online in the fights at spots around the site

From these videos on Facebook, police were able to identify the ‘venues’ and ‘fighting pits’ shown online in the fights at spots around the site

They discovered cockfighting videos being posted on Facebook by 'Shamo Bill', who is believed to be Ripley

They discovered cockfighting videos being posted on Facebook by ‘Shamo Bill’, who is believed to be Ripley

The men won't be allowed to keep game foul for two years and were ordered to pay £865 in costs

The men won’t be allowed to keep game foul for two years and were ordered to pay £865 in costs



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