Beckingham men handed suspended sentences by Lincoln Magistrates Court for offences relating to cock-fighting at Poplar Meadow Traveller Site

Two men have been handed suspended jail sentences for offences relating to cock-fighting and animal cruelty.

Douglas Price, 34, of Poplar Meadow, Beckingham, pleaded guilty to two counts of keeping and/or training cockerels for use in connection with an animal fight at the Poplar Meadow Traveller Site in May 2024.

He also pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to eight cockerels by failing to provide adequate nutrition for them and failing to address their weight loss at the Poplar Meadow site. A further charge of possessing cock-fighting spurs designed or adapted for use in an animal fight was dismissed.

Hugh Steele, 53, also of Poplar Meadow, pleaded guilty being present at an animal fight in January 2024 at the same traveller site, as well as causing unnecessary suffering to a red and black cockerel by failing to treat wounds on its head and neck.

Both men pleaded guilty to the charges at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Friday February 7, and were remanded until they were sentenced on Tuesday (March 11), where they were each handed a 10 week jail terms, suspended for one year, and given 150 hours unpaid work.

*In an earlier report, the sentences were listed as 10 week jail sentences. This was due to incorrect information given by the court.