Man found guilty of dog fighting

The court was shown a video of a dog fight

A jobless guitar teacher from Redruth in Cornwall has been found guilty of being involved in illegal dog fighting.

David Reeves, 38, will be sentenced next month after his conviction at Truro Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Reeves was found guilty of causing, procuring or assisting animal fighting or baiting.

He was also convicted of two offences of permitting unnecessary suffering to a dog called Red, but a third similar charge involving the animal was withdrawn.

Police raid

Reeves was also found guilty of two charges of having dogs of the type bred for fighting, after district judge John Woollard decided that Red and another dog called Millie were pit bulls.

Reeves hid his face as he left the court

The court watched footage of Red and another dog engaged in a violent battle in the back yard of Reeves' home.

RSPCA special operations unit chief inspector Mike Butcher told the court that the video showed a training sequence designed to see how the dog reacted to fighting.

The footage was among videos and other material seized from Reeves' home during a raid last August.

'Injuries'

Vet Alison Robson said Red had suffered around 26 recent and healed punctures and wounds to its head and face, and another 23 to other parts of its body.

Recent wounds were up to eight days old, others at least three months old, and all were caused by another dog's teeth.

The vet also said the bitch, Millie, had five recent or healed injuries caused by fighting with another dog.

During the case, Reeves told the court that dog fighting "disgusts me", adding that the fight in his back yard happened when he was not there and another man was looking after his home and dogs.