Dogs 'pumped full of steroids' and forced to fight in blood splattered arena

Three men at the head of a barbaric international dog fighting ring have been jailed for a combined total of 11 and a half years.

Phillip Harris Ali, 67, Billy Leadley, 38, and Stephen Albert Brown, 56 - were all jailed yesterday, June 3, for their involvement in the dog-fighting ring, while Leadley's wife, Amy Leadley, was spared jail. A Merseyside man - Paul McClean, of Berrywood Drive, Whiston - was also sentenced in connection with the barbaric practice.

Animals were pumped full of steroids to win lucrative deadly bouts held in the garage of the Leadleys' village home. The pair claimed they had a 'birthing pit' - but blood splatters from at least five different dogs proved they were secretly using it as an 'arena' for the twisted spectacles.

READ MORE: Mum smashed pint glass over ex-boyfriend's head after he threw drink on puppy

READ MORE: Suspect named after young mum found dead on train tracks

According to the RSPCA, the poor dogs "didn’t have lives worth living" and suffered "unimaginable pain, suffering, fear and distress".

The RSPCA shared shocking photographs of their kennels and the pits where the dog fighting took place. The images shared with us are so horrific, the ECHO has chosen not to publish them.

The animal welfare charity launched an investigation into dog fighting in the Essex and London areas after one of the charity’s officers visited Ali’s address, in Chigwell, Essex, in August 2021, following information relating to the welfare of a dog at the property.

The officer was concerned after seeing treadmills and scarring on the dogs’ faces and reported his concerns to his colleagues in the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit - a taskforce which investigates serious and organised animal crime, including dog fighting.

The team gathered information and intelligence on Ali, prompting a warrant at his Chigwell address on March 14, 2022 which was executed by the Metropolitan Police. Two dogs - Dotti and Oscar - were seized by police and placed into RSPCA care.

Officers discovered a vet kit, containing steroids, antibiotics, an IV kit for fluids and skin staplers, as well as items used for training fighting dogs, including treadmills, break sticks and flirt poles.

A mobile phone was also seized, revealing a wide network of people using WhatsApp and secure messaging apps to plan fights, discuss training, debrief after fights, and share tips on how to treat injuries. Ali had recorded and sent hours worth of WhatsApp voice notes going into detail about his dogs.

The phone and other evidence led to three further warrants which were executed by Essex Police and Merseyside Police on May 18 2022 - at the Leadleys’ address in Takeley, near Bishops Stortford, in Essex; at Brown’s address in Chigwell, Essex; and at McClean’s address in Merseyside.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs heads up the charity’s Special Operations Unit, which led the investigation into the gang, dubbed Operation Ghoul. He said: “Dog fighting is a barbaric and horrific blood sport which has been illegal in this country for almost 190 years; yet there is a secretive and clandestine underworld where it continues to happen today.

“It has become a hobby, passion and source of entertainment for the people involved, but the reality is that the dogs involved suffer unimaginable pain, suffering, fear and distress. It’s only right that when we have evidence of the people who breed and train dogs for this life, individuals who own and handle dogs in the fighting ring, and those responsible for organising, hosting and refereeing the fights face justice in the courtroom.

“This gang dedicated their lives to breeding, preparing and training what they believed were champion fighting dogs. They enjoyed the build-up to a fight and the excitement of the bloody brawls, as well as trying to patch their injured and dying dogs back together after the event. Sadly, some of the dogs in this case suffered severe injuries and were never found but a mobile phone recovered as part of the investigation included match reports that detailed awful and fatal injuries suffered by some of the dogs involved.”

A total of 19 dogs were seized by police and taken into the RSPCA’s care as part of Operation Ghoul. Four of the dogs had to be put to sleep for health and welfare issues, or due to their dangerous behaviour, but the others have all been undergoing specialist rehabilitation and training with teams across the country.

One dog was seized from McClean’s home in Merseyside, and sixteen dogs were seized from the Leadleys’ address in Takeley, including a large number of bullbreeds thought to have been used for fighting. Many of the dogs were being kept in poor conditions in dirty pens in a garage.

RSPCA Behaviour and Welfare Specialist Claire said: “A lot of these dogs were nervous and shut down when they arrived in our care and many had extensive scarring on their muzzles, heads, chests and front legs; something we see in dogs who have been involved in organised fighting.

“The dogs were being kept in poor conditions, with little interaction with the outside world, except for when they were taken to fight another dog in bloody bouts that often ended in serious and fatal injuries. They had never experienced what it’s like to curl up on a sofa and feel safe, or the fun of running through grassy fields or chasing after a football. They didn’t have lives worth living.

“But now they’re getting the love and care they deserve and have really blossomed and come out of their shells.”

One of the dogs, eight-year-old bull breed Jane, who was removed from one of the pens in the garage at the Leadleys’ home, has been settling into a foster home where she’s reportedly "loving life".

Her foster carer Debbie, who now plans to adopt her, said: “Jane is doing brilliantly and has settled in so well. Her behaviour is fantastic and she loves to go out for walks, and have a good sniff. She just wants to enjoy life and is really chilled.

“I’ve known her for over a year as I volunteer at the centre she was at but she still surprises me every day. I’m so glad I’ve ended up with her and we’re a great match. We suit each other well and both enjoy the quiet life.

“She’s really chilled out and enjoys snoozing in the sun until she gets too hot, and then she moves into the shade. She can be fussy about eating so I’ve been roasting her chicken and cooking her steak, and she’s slowly building up a good appetite. She’s certainly very spoiled!”

Another of the dogs rescued from Takeley, CJ, is also preparing for life with his new foster family.

Following a five-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court the gang were sentenced this week, having been convicted of an array of offences.

Ali - referred to in the dog fighting world as Dr Death - of Manford Way, Chigwell, Essex, was previously found guilty of 10 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including four offences of keeping and/or training a dog for use in a fight, and two of causing a fight. He was sentenced to five years in prison and disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.

Billy Leadley - who is also known as GSK or Green Street Kennels - of Bambers Green, Takeley, Essex, entered a guilty plea to one offence part-way through the trial: of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to provide veterinary treatment for an injury to the dog’s tail.

The jury also found him guilty of a further nine offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006; including keeping a premises for use in fighting, taking part in a fight by refereeing, and keeping and/or training a dog for use in a dog fight. At the end of the trial, Billy Leadley entered guilty pleas to two additional charges, one of failing to meet the needs of nine dogs being kept outside, and owning a prohibited type of dog. He was sentenced to four years in prison and disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.

His wife, Amy Leadley, also of Bambers Green, Takeley, Essex, was found guilty of three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including keeping a premises for use in fighting. At the end of the trial, Amy Leadley entered a guilty plea to one offence of failing to meet the needs of seven dogs in their house.

She was sentenced to an 18-month community order including 200 hours of unpaid work and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement. She was also disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.

Brown, of Burrow Road, Chigwell, Essex, was found guilty of five offences, including three of keeping and/or training a dog for use in an animal fight. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison and disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.

All were ordered to pay a victim surcharge and the RSPCA’s court costs were all awarded from central funds.

McClean also appeared at court yesterday and entered a guilty plea to one offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act. He was fined £100 and disqualified from keeping dogs for three years.

The court deprived the gang of all dogs and their ownership was moved to the RSPCA.

Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here