Cock-fight man sentenced

8:55am Thursday 2nd October 2008

AN USK man was yesterday sentenced for his part in a brutal cock fight.

Michael Purcell, 26, of Beaufort Crescent, Mannswood, Usk, was given a 12-week suspended sentence after the barbaric contest that happened on October 4 last year.

The cruel fight took place at a travellers’ site in Highwood Lane, Patchway, Bristol, and involved two old English game-type birds sparring for one and a half hours.

Armed police swooped on the incident after one of the men involved, George Loveridge, 38, of Bristol, shot one of the birds three times, but failed to kill it.

Purcell said he had then humanely tried to wring the shot bird’s neck before throwing it over a hedge.

Purcell was found guilty of two charges under the Animal Cruelty Act at North Avon Magistrates’ Court on September 10.

He was sentenced yesterday along with Loveridge who was jailed for 18 weeks and banned from keeping animals for two years.

Another man, Benjamin Jones, 27, who lives at the site, was given an eight week suspended sentence for his part in organising the fight.

Purcell, whose two children live at the travellers’ site, was holding a small child in his arms at the time and said the fight was in full flow when he joined the group.

He said he was unhappy about his children having to see it, but didn’t feel he was unable to stop it.

He told the court that he was remorseful about his part in the cock-fight and that it had brought embarrassment on his family.

Purcell was also ordered to pay costs of £4,000 and do 250 hours community work.

The cock-fight had been caught on CCTV by shopping centre security guards - evidence which helped the RSPCA in its prosecution.

RSPCA inspector for Bristol Chris James said after the sentencing: "It (cock-fighting) is deliberately cruel and has been illegal for 150 years.

"To shoot an animal, not kill it, and leave it to someone else to put it out of its misery is unacceptable."