DANNY AND IAN DRAPER AND LAURA BORROW AND KATY DAVIES INVOLVED IN BRUTAL DOG-FIGHTING RING IN BURFORD

The disturbing activities of dog fighters Ian Draper, his son Danny Draper, along with accomplices Laura Borrow and Katy Davies, came to light through a series of investigative actions in Burford, Oxfordshire. The case unraveled after Ian Draper’s former wife, Sharon, took a severely undernourished terrier named Bridget to a veterinary clinic for treatment. The dog was in such a dire state that she had swallowed her own collar in her desperation for food. The veterinarian, suspecting neglect, promptly reported the case to the RSPCA, which launched an investigation into the matter.

During the subsequent search at Danny Draper’s residence, authorities discovered multiple bull-terrier dogs in a state of extreme emaciation. One of these dogs had become so starved that it had ingested its own collar, a clear sign of severe neglect and abuse. The animals showed visible signs of physical trauma, including scars, broken teeth, and injured tails, indicative of their brutal training and fighting history. In addition to the dogs, investigators uncovered equipment used explicitly for training fighting dogs, such as a treadmill, and found a disturbing video depicting two dogs engaged in a violent fight to the death.

Further searches at Ian Draper’s home revealed additional dogs, reinforcing the extent of the illegal activity. Ian Draper had a prior conviction in 2005 for similar offences and was serving a ten-year ban on keeping animals at the time of these recent offences. The investigation included footage shown at Swindon Crown Court, which captured a dog fight involving a dog named Ozzy. The footage was so graphic that Judge Simon Cooper ordered it to be turned off after just a minute, overwhelmed by the brutality.

Authorities also found a break-stick, a device used to wedge into the jaws of fighting dogs to prevent them from biting down fully, which bore several teeth marks. The evidence indicated that the Drapers meticulously documented their training routines, preparing dogs for fights that could last up to 40 minutes. These brutal contests attracted betting from spectators, who wagered large sums on the outcomes.

At the Drapers’ homes in Oxfordshire, the dogs kept for fighting were often starving, injured, and kept in deplorable conditions. The pair frequently organized practice fights, and their animals had even been featured in a dog-fighting magazine. The dogs were trained to attack wounds, particularly targeting the neck and face, often resulting in severe injuries such as ripped lips. Danny Draper pleaded guilty to five charges, including possession of items related to animal fighting, while his father, Ian Draper, admitted to seven charges.

Both men’s girlfriends, Laura Borrow and Katy Davies, were found to be complicit in the illegal activities. They not only knew about the dog fighting but actively helped organize the fights. Katy Davies pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Ian Draper, while Laura Borrow admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals.

Sentencing for the offenders was as follows: Ian Draper received a 20-week prison sentence and was banned from keeping dogs for life after breaching his previous ban. His son, Danny Draper, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and received a 15-year ban from keeping animals. Katy Davies was fined £600 and disqualified from keeping dogs, while Laura Borrow was ordered to pay £300 in costs and was also disqualified from keeping dogs.

In an update from February 2020, it was revealed that Danny Draper had changed his name to Danny Smith. Both Danny and Ian Draper, who reside at 1 Walkers Close, Asthall, Burford, Oxfordshire, are now listed as directors of a courier company called Cotswold Couriers Ltd, which is possibly no longer operational. The two men are no longer associated with Laura Borrow and Katy Davies, who have since married and adopted their husbands’ surnames. Katy Davies now goes by Katy Chapman and lives on Church Lane, Burford, while Laura Borrow, previously known as Laura Hornsby and later as Laura Saxton, resides on Moorland Road, Witney, Oxfordshire.