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| Dog-fighting arena owner jailed | Dog-fighting arena owner jailed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Birmingham man who turned part of his home into a dog-fighting arena has been jailed for four months. | A Birmingham man who turned part of his home into a dog-fighting arena has been jailed for four months. |
| Adio Clarke, of Holly Road, Handsworth, admitted keeping 11 pit bull terriers and causing unnecessary suffering to three of them. | Adio Clarke, of Holly Road, Handsworth, admitted keeping 11 pit bull terriers and causing unnecessary suffering to three of them. |
| The 28-year-old also admitted owning a dog-fighting venue and causing dogs to fight each other. | The 28-year-old also admitted owning a dog-fighting venue and causing dogs to fight each other. |
| One of the animals seized at his house had 157 separate wounds, Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard. | |
| Dog-fighting video | |
| Another dog had suffered a broken pelvis and another had had an ear almost severed. | |
| An animal welfare expert said the injuries were consistent with having been caused by dog fighting. | |
| The tragedy is that these animals have been bred by man for the sole purpose of fighting Nick Sutton, prosecuting | The tragedy is that these animals have been bred by man for the sole purpose of fighting Nick Sutton, prosecuting |
| Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said Clarke could not take the animals to a vet to receive proper treatment for their injuries, because they were an illegal breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act. | |
| He said Clarke had treated the injuries himself, contributing to the dogs' suffering. | He said Clarke had treated the injuries himself, contributing to the dogs' suffering. |
| Mr Sutton said: "The tragedy is that these animals have been bred by man for the sole purpose of fighting. | Mr Sutton said: "The tragedy is that these animals have been bred by man for the sole purpose of fighting. |
| "Through no fault of their own, they find themselves in this appalling situation." | "Through no fault of their own, they find themselves in this appalling situation." |
| When officers raided Clarke's home in April, they found six pit bulls chained up in the garden and more dogs inside the house. | When officers raided Clarke's home in April, they found six pit bulls chained up in the garden and more dogs inside the house. |
| The court was shown a homemade video found at Clarke's home, showing two dogs attacking each another while being urged on by onlookers. | |
| In a separate video clip, a man showed injuries on his hand and foot to the camera, while a voice on the tape said: "Standard pit bull damage that. Eight-months-old, standard tooth holes." | |
| Sentencing Clarke, District Judge Neil Davison said the case was aggravated by his previous record for assault, robbery and possession of firearms. | Sentencing Clarke, District Judge Neil Davison said the case was aggravated by his previous record for assault, robbery and possession of firearms. |
| He said the offence was so serious only a prison sentence was appropriate. | He said the offence was so serious only a prison sentence was appropriate. |
| The maximum sentence that Clarke faced was six months in prison. |