In one of the caravans searched, officers found hundreds of photos and paintings showing cockfighting.

RSPCA officer says the men were “obsessed” with the bloodsport 

Two men have been handed suspended prison sentences and a two-year ban on keeping gamefowl, after admitting to a range of animal welfare offences related to cockfighting.

Bill Ripley, 45, and Moses Brinkley, 61, both of Claywood Lane in Dartford, appeared at the Bexleyheath Magistrates’ Court on Monday (19 March), according to the RSPCA.

The charity said Ripley admitted to five offences under the Animal Welfare Act, including being present at an animal fight, keeping a premises for use in an animal fight and keeping animals for fighting.

He was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, disqualified from keeping gamefowl for two years and ordered to pay £865 in costs. He was also given a rehabilitation and curfew requirement.

Meanwhile Brinkley, who also pleaded guilty to five offences, was given to a 10-week jail term suspended for 12 months, banned from keeping gamefowl for two years and ordered to pay costs.

The RSPCA’s special operations unit launched an investigation after graphic videos of cockfighting were seen online and reported to the charity. Material posted on Facebook by a user called ‘Shamo Bill’ - believed to be Ripley - suggests he was involved in breeding, keeping, selling and fighting cockerels.

Police and RSPCA officers found 242 birds when they searched three plots on a travellers’ site in Bean, Kent on 9 March. One hen, which was found with a neck injury, was removed and rehomed by the charity.

In one of the caravans searched, officers found hundreds of photos and paintings showing cockfighting (pictured), as well as paraphernalia such as spurs, muffs and books about the bloodsport. A homemade booklet - titled ‘Bill Ripley and his TyWon Shamo Chickens (2004) - was also found. It contained photos, information and tips on the breeding and training of cockerels.

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said the contents of the caravan showed the defendants were “obsessed” with cockfighting.

Mobiles phones were seized from the site and forensically examined, which uncovered many messages discussing the breeding and fighting of cockerels, as well as lots of videos of fights. Officers were also able to identify the venues and fighting pits shown online at spots around the caravan site.

Image courtesy of the RSPCA