TWO MEN JAILED FOR DOG FIGHTS IN BIRMINGHAM BASEMENT LASTING HOURS
Two men have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in large-scale dog fighting activities involving bull breeds, with fights that could last for hours.Asif Ali, linked to 'On Smoke Kennels', conducted training sessions with dogs in a basement located on Ash Road, Alum Rock, which was also used as a fighting venue.
One of his dogs, Roxy, was killed during a fight.
Ali promoted and advertised fighting events under the OSK brand, kept four fighting dogs between October 2022 and September 2023, and also dealt with injured animals.
He was sentenced to 17 months in prison and received a ban on keeping animals.
Sohail Hussain, associated with 'UK Gladiators', purchased and used dogs for fighting, organized events, and discussed breeding and selling aggressive dogs.
He was handed a 21-month sentence and similarly banned from keeping animals indefinitely.
Authorities recovered evidence from the basement on Ash Road, including scales, a treadmill, a harness, and a designated fight area.
Both men admitted to charges of maintaining or training animals for fighting, inflicting suffering, and possessing items used in animal fights.
Hussain has a prior conviction from 2006 for attending a dog fight.
The case was overseen by Judge Paul Farrer KC, who described the activities as extremely cruel, noting fights could last hours and many dogs did not survive.
Ali, aged 33, from Alum Rock, and Hussain, aged 46, from Oldbury, were sentenced with additional prohibitions on owning animals.
