Wednesday September 16, 2009, 6:11 am


A woman at the centre of one of Europe’s largest dog-fighting gangs was convicted yesterday of using her cottage to hold fights where animals often died from their injuries.

Claire Parker, 44, a mother of three, had a pit dug in her garage where illegal dogs fought for up to an hour, as bets of hundreds of pounds were placed on which would emerge alive.

Only now can it be revealed that the woman was married to John Parker — a convicted drug dealer who died in prison this year.

John Parker bred and trained fighting dogs, and used them to guard a large store of marijuana hidden in their kennels. He died of a heart attack in April, but before that was a ringleader of the dog-fighting gang.

The couple used their home in the village of Kexby, Lincolnshire, to host illegal American pitbull fights. They provided sandwiches and beer for dog fighters who travelled across the country for the fights.

One animal was so badly injured that a former special forces soldier who infiltrated the gang said that it looked like a shotgun had been fired in its face. The dog later died.

After a two-week trial, Claire Parker was convicted of holding and being present at a fight in May 2007, and possessing three pitbulls, a breed that is banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Mohammed Farooq, 33, from Bordesley Green, Birmingham, was found guilty of causing two dogs unnecessary suffering, and possessing training equipment for dog-fighting.

A male aged 17 from another Birmingham address was also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs. They both admitted possessing three illegal pitbulls.

Those convicted were among a gang of eight, including Gary Adamson, 38, who boasted of wanting to be the “Don King” of the dog-fighting world — a reference to the American boxing promoter. Adamson had dog-fighting links across Europe and to Northern Ireland paramilitaries.

The convictions, at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court, were part of a £250,000 RSPCA investigation after an undercover operation by Steve Ibinson — a former SAS soldier — whose work was featured in a BBC Panorama programme.

The trial was told how members of the gang attended “conventions” in Finland where severely injured animals had crocodile clips fastened to their tails and ears before being connected to the mains and electrocuted.

A goal for many involved was to train a “respected stud” that could make thousands of pounds for owners in breeding other fighting dogs.

In a number of raids, RSPCA officers seized weighing scales and “break sticks” — for parting the animals once their jaws had locked on to each other. They also seized veterinary products.

Five people, including Adamson, had earlier admitted a series of dog-fighting offences in breach of the Dangerous Dogs Act and Animal Welfare Act. The gang will be sentenced next week, and face up to six months in prison, and fines of up to £20,000 each.

Chief Inspector Ian Briggs, of the RSPCA’s special operations unit, said: “Dog fighting is a barbaric and cruel so-called sport which belongs in the Dark Ages.”

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 8:28 am
Just six months in prison and a fine? Another case where the laws need to be revised and more severe penalties imposed.

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 9:17 am
that is not lon enough again for that she she have goten more

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 10:24 am
Makes me sick, and the punishment shoiuld be more severe. In a way, it's just a slap on the hand.

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 10:44 am
Sadly I live in the same county and there is I believe only one wildlife officer in the police to cover the whole county which is the largest agricultural county in UK supplying much of the grain,sugar, veggies, beef, dairy porducts etc for the UKs supermarkets. Much of the county is remote by UK standards ie 10 miles from the nearest town etc so such activities can be hidden away. After dark we get lampers and badger baiters and hare coursers and all sorts of scum invading the county from outside to practise their evil activities and whilst at that they have sidelines in stealing, tools, diesal, machinery, horses tack and livestock along with farm eguipment espensive cars etc. They have been having a harder time recently because the police have fixed and mobile ANPR cameras (automatic number plate reader) that will throw up suspicious cars and track them across country. There have been instances of number plates being stolen presumably to try and get around this device as you can no longer have number plates made without your reg documents! If you drive without plates or someone elses plates especially if it's not the same type of vehicle sooner or later the authorites catch up with them. Ocasionally the police helicopter appears and you know then they are after someone! But don't let me put ypu off the UK. Sadly the courts seem to be more interested in the money aspect than the awful cruelty involved and that is probably true everywhere as the almighty dollar rules justice as well as evdrthing else! This lot need locking up for a tad more than the 6 months maximum! Some of the same treatment they gave these dogs!

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 3:28 pm
These are sick disgusting monsters. anyone who can stand and watch dogs brutally fight, tearing and ripping each other apart and bet on the winner is truely a monster.

to take gentle dogs and train them to be babaric fighters is so unspeakablly evil it simply cant be discribed.

these poeple need to go to prison for the rest of thier of thier lives.

BARBARIC, DISGUSTING, LOW LIFE SCUM BAGS. THESE ARE NOT HUMANS, THERE ARE REAL NIGHTMARE MONSTERS.

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 3:29 pm
slap on the wrist so old thing

Wednesday September 16, 2009, 5:15 pm
Great that their cruelty is now known. Hopefully, authorities will continue to monitor them - 6 months is not long enough to forget! Like everywhere else, laws need to be changed. Must admit, would be nice if the sick b#*ch would choke on a sandwich and join her disgusting husband. I'm thankful here in the states we're beginning to see felonies in the individual states. Even so, I don't believe animal fighting will ever end because there is always the scum not afraid of going to prison for their greed of money.

Thursday September 17, 2009, 12:36 am
she should have got 6years what a scumbag

Thursday September 17, 2009, 1:49 am
Not that I have anything against them, But, just how many of these people are Travelers or Romany??? They are sometimes involved in this type of skull duggery. They have to make a living in some way and sometimes get involved in criminal activities.

Thursday September 17, 2009, 4:08 am
I want to realy say what I feel about this woman, but I will be banned off Care 2. The dogfighting appears to be huge. The government must set up a special tasks force only for the dogfighting so that many evil persons can get caught.

Thursday September 17, 2009, 9:22 am
This Psycho gets 6mos that's nothing plus she has 3 kids who are going to think there's nothing wrong with dog fights.The laws need to be changed the punishment should fit the crime

Thursday September 17, 2009, 9:25 am
How disgusting these people are! People like this need to be required to go to a lack of empathy rehab program, before they are released again into society. I do honestly believe they need psychological help.

Thursday September 17, 2009, 9:29 am
This is the country that started dog fighting back in the 1700s! They created the breed and fought them for entertainment, 300 years later and nothing has changed! I prefer the company of dogs because humans are more evil than ever before, we're not evolving, we're a disgusting-deplorable race. Stories like this more than upset me, people have ZERO humanity left and when it comes to animals,well they are just disposable to these money loving pus bags who should breath NO MORE!

Thursday September 17, 2009, 11:25 am
these people need a much harsher punishment, as do all people who dogfight. i agree with kim, i prefer animals over people because people are so evil and heartless these days. God is ashamed, and i hope all people who abuse animals as well as children go to hell. these poor creatures need so much more protection and authorities dont seem to feel that way. i think any person who harms an animal or child, should have the same thing done to them. dog fighters are the ones who give pitbulls a bad name. screw them all!

Thursday September 17, 2009, 11:31 am
Oh, another little slap on the hand for a horrendous act. When will these laws get to these criminals in a way that THEY suffer!
Tks Cher (I'k sick)

Thursday September 17, 2009, 1:45 pm
What a disgusting person - can't say human. Tired of these monsters only getting a slap on the wrist!