A VILE dog-fighting ring where animals are forced to ‘train’ on treadmills before mauling each other to death can be revealed.
Phillip Ali – known as “Doctor Death” – gave animals steroids in a bid to win sick bouts in a couple’s garage at their suburban home in Essex.
The 68-year-old was found guilty of multiple cruelty charges, alongside homeowners Billy, 38, and Amy Leadley, 39 – and accomplice Stephen Brown, 56.
Thousands of pounds could be won in the deadly fights organised by Ali, with his dogs trained to rip each other apart, a court heard.
A carpeted 12ft x 8ft birthing pit inside the garage was used as an “arena” and contained the blood of five different dogs, which was also splattered up the walls.
The gang circulated reports after each contest, with one bragging about a dog biting another “in the throat” and “shaking hard”.
Billy Leadley – under the alias Tony Stellios – refereed fights and operated underground kennels at the property in Bambers Green, Takeley, where he also trained the animals.
Vets from the RSPCA went into the squalid set-up and found horribly scarred and disfigured dogs, reports The Mirror.
One fight lasting 25 minutes saw a pitbull named Bonnie mauled to death, but her body was never recovered.
While hiding their double lives, the Leadleys shared loved-up selfies and pictures of their two kids on social media.
Ali operated the UK arm of the operation from his home in Chigwell, Essex, but the gang was also involved in fights in Ireland and France.
How to spot dog fighting in your area
Sustained and loud barking from multiple dogs in gardens: Fighting breeders may keep and train a lot of dogs in a small space, and sustained, distressed calls from the dogs could be a sign of this.
Tyres hanging from trees: This set-up is used in training, with the dog made to hang from the tyre by its jaw to strengthen its bite.
Scratch marks in public parks: Makeshift pits can pop up in public parks and then vanish, but gouges on the ground, as well as blood stains, can show where a fight was staged.
Dogs with puncture wounds or missing limbs: Surviving fighters will often limp away from a fight with bite marks, or missing limbs. Scars on black-furred dogs will often show up as white patches.
Dogs whose ears have been cropped back: This practice makes it harder for rival dogs to latch on to the ears, and can make the animal look more menacing.
In a voice note played to Chelmsford Crown Court, Ali said a dog named Olivia would have survived if her handler had given her anti-sickness drugs.
Ali embarked on his underground dog fighting venture after serving 10 years in jail for attempted murder in 2005.
He earned up to £5,000 for winning a single bout. Police found “vet kits”, including syringes, at Brown’s home.
Dogs involved were usually banned pitbulls as well as other bull breeds.
The RSPCA found sick videos showing dogs covered in blood during its three-year investigation.
RSPCA Special Ops Unit chief inspector Ian Muttitt said the sick sport was the gang’s “hobby”.
He added: “These people don’t do it for money, some people go out and play golf on a weekend. These people go out and do this, it’s their passion.”
Prosecutors revealed the dogs were given up to 12 weeks to get in shape for the horrific encounters, using treadmills, weighted collars and “flirt poles” to help condition them.
Judge Jamie Sawyer told the gang he would “not exclude prison” when the are sentenced in June.
The charges they were found guilty of included keeping and/or training a dog for use in a fight, causing a fight, keeping a -premises for use in fighting and taking part in a fight.
The Leadleys also admitted failing to meet the needs of dogs.
