A man known as Dr Death is among a group jailed for arranging bloodthirsty dog fights in which the animals suffered terrible injuries.

The dogs were put on treadmills and starved to get down to fighting weight, and sometimes died during the bouts.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard others were badly hurt, suffering broken legs for example, and were kept in dirty conditions without clean water or proper bedding.

They were denied access to a vet and were treated with makeshift medical kits.

The gang showed “a shocking level of barbarism and callousness” and treated the dogs as “playing pieces” and a “commodity”, said judge Jamie Sawyer.

He said a report about one 58-minute fight, in which one of the animals suffered two broken legs, was “horrific”.

The court heard the fights took place in England, Ireland and France.

A phone belonging to ringleader to Phillip Harris Ali, 67, from Chigwell in Essex, known as Dr Death, provided much of the evidence.

It contained video and photos of the dogs, as well as gruesome fight reports, and were sent via an encrypted messaging app.

Ali’s accomplice, Stephen Albert Brown, 57, also from Chigwell, was the person who obtained illegal veterinary medicine and equipment.

He also helped train the dogs and arrange the fights.

Personal trainer Billy Leadley, 38, had a dog fighting pit in his home in Bambers Green, Takeley, Essex, and was referee for some of the bouts.

Read more from Sky News:
Man in court charged with 1999 murder of teenager
UK had its warmest May and spring on record

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Ali was sentenced to five years in jail for 10 offences under the Animal Welfare Act, Brown got two-and-a-half years for five offences, and Leadley got four years for 12 offences.

Leadley’s wife Amy was not directly involved in the ring, but was sentenced for offences linked to keeping a premises for dog fighting and not caring for the animals properly.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

She received a community order, 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 days’ rehabilitation.

All of those convicted were banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.

Related posts:

‘A symbol of her life and her legacy’: What Diana statue means to William and Harry ‘There’s a big wave coming’: Omicron warning issued as COVID rules tightened in Wales What new Omicron sub-lineage might mean for the UK – and its exit from latest COVID wave Rises in prices of bread, diamonds, gas: How will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affect the UK? Stand-in for Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick announced as April exit confirmed Mum accused of torturing son to death says ‘I should have died instead of him’ Father who went missing with partner and baby is convicted sex offender Knowing Nicola Bulley was ‘high risk’ would have ‘changed whole search’ Norovirus levels ‘significantly higher’ but ambulance delays improving Major pub chain to make pints more expensive at evenings and weekends Investigation after malicious emails sent to a number of schools in North West Rishi Sunak adds to pressure on former Post Office head to have CBE stripped