AN unemployed man who converted the downstairs of his Birmingham home into an illegal dog fighting venue has been jailed for four months.
Adio Clarke, of Holly Road, Handsworth, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court to four charges relating to illegal dogs.
The court heard that when police raided 22-year-old Clarke's home, they found 11 pit bull terriers, all suffering injuries apparently caused by dog fights.
One of the animals, which are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, was found to have 157 separate injuries, which an animal welfare expert said were consistent with being caused by dog fighting.
Another dog had suffered a broken pelvis and another had had one ear almost severed.
Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said that because the dogs were held illegally, Clarke was unable to take them to a vet to receive proper treatment for their injuries.
He said Clarke had treated the injuries himself, often inadequately or ineptly, and this had contributed to the dogs' suffering.
Mr Sutton said: "The tragedy is that these animals have been bred by man for the sole purpose of fighting.
"Through no fault of their own, they find themselves in this appalling situation."
When officers raided Clarke's home in April last year, they found six pit bulls chained up in the garden, more dogs inside the house and a video showing two young dogs attacking each other in a sparring bout.
