The RSPCA today (Monday) celebrated the first ever

The RSPCA today (Monday) celebrated the first ever conviction of
importing videos of organised fights between pit bull terriers.

Jurors at London’s Southwark Crown Court took less than two
hours to find Christopher Grace, 25, guilty of unlawfully importing
obscene materials.

Their verdict was unanimous.

Grace, a locksmith, of Bowditch, Deptford, south London,
was fined pds stlng 500 and ordered to pay crown costs of pds
stlng 500.

RSPCA inspector Mr Tim Wass said afterwards: ‘This was a test
case.

We are delighted to see that in the minds of the jury
it these videos were deemed to be obscene.

‘
Today’s guilty verdict could set a precedent for many
similar cases which were pending upon the outcome of Grace’s
trial.

Sentencing Grace, Mr Recorder David Ellis said:
‘Organised dog fighting is illegal in this country and anything
done to promote or encourage it is a serious matter.

‘The aim of these videos was to promote dog fighting.

‘
The judge said he accepted that the two videos Grace
imported from Malta were not part of a larger consignment, and
that Grace had not planned to sell the videos for commercial
gain.

‘The proper way of dealing with this matter is by
financial penalty,’ he said.

Grace must pay the fine within six months or spend 30
days in jail.

Mr Mark Calway, defending, said the videos were ‘very
distressing’ and Grace had got involved in a ‘foolhardy
venture’.

During the trial, the jury saw one of the videos,
lasting one hour, showing two pit bull terriers viciously
attacking each other while a circle of men cheered and urged
them on.

Prosecutor Mr Gregory Treverton-Jones described the
video as ‘filthy, loathsome and repulsive’.

‘These fights are real,’ he said.

‘They are not simulated or feigned in any way and they
resulted in serious injuries being ifflicted on at least one of
the dogs involved.

‘
The hour-long video was one of two videos sent from
Malta to Grace last May.

Customs officers intercepted the
package at Mount Pleasant sorting office.

The video shown to the jury showed blood spurting from
the necks of the two pit bull terriers during a ferocious
‘duel’ staged on a wasteland.

The snarling dogs were seen locking their jaws onto each
other while their owners spurred them on and a circle of men
cheered.

During a second fight on the video, a blood-covered dog
collapsed.

A letter in the package read: ‘Dear Chris, As I promised
I have sent you the videos.

Both videos were filmed by different
men so watch them both and make your choice.

‘
The letter was signed: ‘Your friend in sport, Tony.

‘
Customs officers and the RSPCA searched Grace’s home and
found several pit bull terriers and letters addressed to and
from the defendant’s alleged Maltese contact Antonio Fenech.

One letter indicated Grace was planning to send a pit
bull pup named ‘Champ’ to Malta, the jury heard.

‘Champ has had his injections and the documents are
ready.

I rang Air Malta and it will cost pds stlng 115 to send
him,’ the letter said.

Grace denied the charge, claiming he thought the videos
would show pit bull terriers demonstrating feats of strength
like pulling dead weights.

He said he did not expect to see organised fights.

Outside court after being sentenced, Grace refused to
comment.

ENDS
LLLL