TWO Blackburn men have been jailed and banned from keeping animals for 10 years for taking part in a dog fight.

Aftab Razzaq, 25, was jailed for four months and Usman Hussain, 22, for three months after magistrates said they were satisfied they attended a pre-arranged dog fight and actively urged the animals to fight causing hem distress.

And the RSPCA, which brought the prosecutions, welcomed the sentence as a suitable punishment and a warning to others tempted to get involved in dog fighting.

“That is an excellent result,” said RSPCA Inspector Melissa Furey.

“We are really pleased with the outcome, especially the banning order.

"Hopefully this will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of participating in this kind of activity.

“Status dogs are becoming more and more of a problem with gangs of youths using them for fighting and to intimidate the public.

"They don’t understand these dogs and what they are capable of.”

Blackburn magistrates heard one of the dog handlers filmed the fight on his mobile phone.

But the footage was eventually presented to police and the RSPCA by an ex-girlfriend who sent it to her own phone when Razzaq was out of the room.

Razzaq, of Whalley New Road, pleaded guilty to causing an animal fight to take place on September 8, 2008, and causing unnecessary suffering to a pit bull terrier and failing to take proper care of the dog.

Ussman Hussain, of St James Road, pleaded guilty to taking part in a dog fight.

Chris Wyatt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said a number of people had gathered on the land in Troy Street on the day of the incident.

“The dog fight which subsequently took place has been filmed by someone who knew it was going to happen which suggests to me there was some pre-planning,” said Mr Wyatt.

The magistrates watched the video which showed a Staffordshire bull terrier and a pit bull terrier fighting still on their leads.

There was also footage of the dogs snarling and barking at each other.

Peter King, defending Hussain, claimed his client was walking the family dog and had not gone to Troy Street for a pre-arranged fight.

“My client says he was goaded by others to present it to the other animal,” said Mr King.

Ian Huggan, defending Razzaq, said his client did not accept making arrangements to have a dog fight and that the ex-girlfriend had acted out of jealousy.