NASAR KHAN FROM BLACKBURN SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL FIGHTING DOG TRAINING CENTRE

Nasar Khan, born on March 13, 1982, and residing at 12 July Street in Blackburn BB1 1SR, has been convicted of serious animal cruelty and illegal dog fighting activities. The case uncovered a disturbing operation where Khan transformed a modest terraced house into a clandestine training facility specifically for fighting dogs.

In July, police officers executed a search at the property, which was owned by Khan’s family, and discovered nine unlicensed, illegal pit bull terriers chained and confined within the premises. The dogs were found in a deplorable state, with one of them managing to escape from the property and subsequently roaming the street, prompting immediate police action.

The house itself was a scene of chaos and violence. Prosecutor Isla Chilton described the interior as “a violent scene with blood splattered everywhere.” She explained that the residence lacked basic furniture and lighting, and was instead filled with cages, chained dogs, and a treadmill designed for training purposes. The police also found a variety of muscle-enhancing tablets and powders, indicating an intent to increase the dogs’ fighting capabilities.

Chilton emphasized that the dogs had been subjected to aggressive training, evidenced by the fresh scars visible on some of them. The treadmill, equipped with a collar clip, was used to force the dogs to run, maintaining their fitness for fighting matches. The dogs were not ordinary pets; they were described as highly aggressive and dangerous, bred and trained specifically for combat.

Under the provisions of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, these animals are banned, and their seizure was a necessary step. Following their confiscation, a dog warden was called to handle the animals, which were taken to a kennel for care. However, the dogs’ vicious nature was so severe that one of them managed to escape from the back of the van during transport and attacked another dog so badly that it had to be euthanized. Ultimately, all nine dogs were humanely put down to prevent further risk.

During the court proceedings, Khan’s defense attorney, Aftab Bakhat, claimed that his client was not involved in training the dogs for fighting. Instead, Bakhat argued that Khan was simply fascinated by the animals and wanted to make them larger and more muscular. He described Khan as “an extremely stupid man” who did not realize that his actions were illegal.

District Judge Peter Ward addressed the court, stating, “It is clear that these dogs were being trained to bite and the potential danger to the public was significant.” He further remarked, “He may have been naive, but it appears these dogs had been prepared for fighting and had been involved in some form of combat.”

The financial burden of caring for the seized dogs was substantial, exceeding £15,000, which was ultimately covered by taxpayers after Khan, who was unemployed at the time, was sentenced to four months in jail. Notably, there was no ban imposed on Khan’s ownership of dogs following his conviction.

Following the sentencing, RSPCA spokesperson Sophie Corless expressed her concern about the ongoing issue of pit bull-type dogs being kept for malicious reasons, such as organized dog fighting and as symbols of machismo. She highlighted that such practices put the welfare of the animals at great risk and described the crime as particularly brutal.