THE ringleaders of a "barbaric" of fighting network led by "Dr Death" have been jailed after animals were forced to fight to the death.
The vile gang, led by Phillip Ali, made the dogs train on treadmills and fed them steroids in a bid to win sick bouts at his Essex home.
Phillip Harris Ali (left) and Stephen Brown (right) were jailed todayCredit: PABilly Leadley and wife Amy have also been jailedBarbaric photos showed the dogs being kept in cagesA horror image of two of the dogs fightingA dog pit in France, taken from Ali’s phoneCredit: PAThe ringleaders caused the dogs to suffer "unimaginable pain, suffering, fear and distress" in the name of "entertainment".
Ali was today jailed for five years and disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years after he was found guilty of 10 animal cruelty offences last month.
Homeowners Billy, 38, and Amy Leadley, 39 - and accomplice Stephen Brown, 56 - were also today jailed at Chelmsford Crown Court for their roles.
Man fined £165 after outraging the internet by dying puppy to look like PikachuThe court earlier heard how the RSPCA launched a probe into dog fighting in the Essex and London areas following a visit to Ali'd home in August 2021.
The officer reported seeing treadmills and scarring on the dogs' faces before reporting the gang.
Two dogs were later seized from the address by police, before a search found a vet kit containing steroids, antibiotics, an IV kit for fluids and skin staplers.
Also found were items used for training fighting dogs including treadmills, break sticks and flirt poles.
A phone seized at the address, belonging to Ali, revealed WhatsApp and secure messaging apps planning fights, discussing training, debriefs after fights and tips on how to treat injuries.
The phone and other evidence led to the Leadleys' address in Takeley, near Bishops Stortford in Essex, and at Brown's address in Chigwell.
Sixteen dogs were seized from the Leadleys' address 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.
One fight lasting 25 minutes saw a pitbull named Bonnie mauled to death, but her body was never recovered.
In her witness statement, lead RSPCA investigator Inspector Kirsty Withnall described the area as "dark, dingy and filthy" with a strong smell of urine and faeces.
Dog who 'always melts hearts' with his smile hopes to find a loving familyAt the Leadleys' property, inspectors also discovered a 12ft x 8ft dog fighting pit in the garage area.
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 sadly 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.
Billy Leadley, known as GSK or Green Street Kennels, of Takeley, Essex, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to provide veterinary treatment for an injury to the dog's tail and was found guilty of a further nine offences.
He was sentenced to four years in prison and disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.
His wife Amy was was found guilty of three offences, including keeping a premises for use in fighting.
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 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.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Ian Briggs said: "Dog fighting is a barbaric and horrific bloodsport 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.
He added: "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."
PC Kerry Rowson, of Essex Police, added: "The brutal crimes committed by Ali and Brown were cruel, calculated and entirely for their own profit.
"Our officers support the RSPCA across the county in tackling violent animal abuse, and it is right these two men [and others] faced justice for their actions."
Three dogs being kept in kennels in the garden of Phillip Harris AliCredit: PA