PHILIP ALI AND ESSEX DOG-FIGHTING RING: HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN BISHOP'S STORTFORD AND CHIGWELL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community and animal welfare advocates, four individuals connected to an Essex-based dog-fighting operation have been convicted of heinous crimes involving the brutal abuse and fighting of dogs. The ring, which was centered around locations in Chigwell, Bishop's Stortford, and Merseyside, was led by Philip Ali, known by the nickname 'Doctor Death,' who previously served a decade in prison for attempted murder.

Ali, along with his accomplices Stephen Brown, Billy Leadley, and Amy Leadley, engaged in a systematic campaign of cruelty that involved training dogs for combat across various European countries. The investigation uncovered that these individuals subjected dogs to inhumane treatment, including administering steroids and painkillers to enhance their fighting capabilities, and forcing them into violent battles where injuries and fatalities were common.

The evidence revealed that the fights were often held in the garage of the Leadleys’ family home in Takeley, Bishop's Stortford. Investigators found bloodstains from at least five different dogs in a specially constructed fighting pit within the garage, which was equipped with a 12-foot by 8-foot dog fighting area, slat mills, treadmills, and weighted collars. The conditions in which the animals were kept were deplorable, with many dogs suffering from severe injuries such as broken legs, scars, and scratches, often left in dirty, unclean environments with little access to water or proper bedding.

During the raid on Ali’s residence in March 2022, authorities seized two dogs and a variety of fighting paraphernalia, including a slat mill, treadmills, break sticks, flirt poles, and a makeshift veterinary kit containing skin staplers, steroids, antibiotics, and painkillers. Mobile phones recovered from Ali contained hours of voice recordings and videos depicting brutal dog fights, injuries, and detailed plans for future matches. These recordings also included messages about travel arrangements to fight locations in Ireland, France, and other parts of England, illustrating the international scope of the operation.

Ali, who had previously served time for attempted murder, was found guilty of ten offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including keeping and training dogs for fighting and causing fights. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Stephen Brown, identified as Ali’s right-hand man and the 'medicine man' of the ring, was convicted of five offences and received a sentence of two and a half years. Brown was also involved in sourcing illegal veterinary medicines and equipment to facilitate the fights.

Billy Leadley, a personal trainer, and his wife Amy Leadley, a hairdresser, both played active roles in hosting and organizing these brutal events at their family garage. Billy pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to provide veterinary care, and was sentenced to four years in prison. Amy, who also admitted to keeping a premises for fighting and neglecting the needs of dogs, received an 18-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and 25 days of rehabilitation activities. Both Leadleys were banned from owning or keeping dogs for ten years.

The court heard that the gang’s activities involved not only organizing fights but also training dogs using treadmills, weighted collars, and steroids. The animals endured extreme stress, starvation, and injuries, with some dogs being sent abroad to fight and never returning. The investigation uncovered that the ring was highly organized, with evidence of multiple fights held in Essex, Ireland, and France, with the latter involving flights to Bordeaux.

Authorities seized a total of sixteen dogs from the Leadleys’ property, including breeds commonly used in fighting, many of which were kept in poor conditions in the garage. The evidence also included breeding advice, fight records, and illegal veterinary supplies. The court was told that the entire operation was driven by a brutal passion for blood sports, with the defendants showing a shocking level of barbarism and callousness towards the animals.

Judge Jamie Sawyer condemned the defendants for their treatment of the dogs, emphasizing that they regarded the animals as commodities rather than living beings. RSPCA investigators, including Chief Inspector Ian Muttitt and Ian Briggs, highlighted the severity of the cruelty involved, with Muttitt describing Ali’s phone as a 'goldmine of evidence' that linked most of the defendants to multiple organized fights. The investigation revealed that some dogs suffered fatal injuries, with one dog, Olivia, dying from her wounds after a fight in Ireland.

The case underscores the ongoing problem of illegal dog fighting in the UK, despite being outlawed nearly 190 years ago. Authorities continue to combat this underground activity, which inflicts unimaginable suffering on innocent animals. The conviction of Ali, Brown, and the Leadleys marks a significant step in the fight against this barbaric practice, but experts warn that such rings remain active in secret, necessitating continued vigilance and enforcement.