A 38-year-old woman was today banned from keeping dogs for ten years following the discovery of one of the largest dog-fighting syndicates in Europe, the RSPCA said.
Jane Adamson, of Yarm, Cleveland, had admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a dog when she was handed the ban at Lincoln Magistrates' Court.
She was also given an 18-month community order and told to pay £150 in costs.
Seven other people were sentenced earlier for their part in the dog-fighting ring, which was discovered by an undercover reporter working for the BBC's Panorama programme.
Five of those seven received jail sentences in September.
The court heard Jane Adamson's husband Gary had used his pit bull Pablo for a fight in Kexby, Lincolnshire, but that afterwards the animal had not received any attention from a vet. Gary Adamson, 38, was jailed for 23 weeks.
Chief inspector Mike Butcher, from the RSPCA, said: "Dog-fighting is a barbaric and cruel so-called sport which belongs in the dark ages and horrific suffering is caused to the dogs involved.
"Those that continue to pursue this activity should understand that the RSPCA and the police will continue to bring those responsible before the courts."
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