A BRADFORD farmer described as having an "unhealthy interest in cockfighting" has avoided jail.

Douglas Rufus Price, 39, of Valley Farm, Low Lane, near Clayton, appeared at Bradford Crown Court earlier this month.

He was found guilty of charges including causing unncessary suffering to animals and sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months. 

West Yorkshire Police and the RSPCA attended the working farm in February last year and found 22 hens and cockerels in makeshift pens. 

Some were without food and water while others were suffering from feather loss along with injuries consistent with fighting.

Seized mobile phone footage later revealed that Price was keeping and training the birds to fight.

RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby, who investigated, said: "All of the birds at the site appeared to be underweight with feather loss on their chest and the majority of them were bald in this area.

"On closer observation, a number of the cockerels had injuries and all appeared to have had their combs cut.

"There was a limited amount of food and water provided in each pen and some had no provisions at all. 

"Inside one of the wooden pens there was a hen which was unable to bear weight on one of her legs.

"Inside the metal pen there was a cockerel which was limping and had a swollen leg and inside a shed there was another hen which was also limping.

"Due to the number of animal welfare concerns, I contacted a vet immediately who confirmed to me that a number of these birds would have been suffering."

The vet found that a total of 14 hens and cockerels were in a state of neglect and some had been caused unnecessary suffering.

One dead cockerel was found at the scene - and three birds were subsequently put to sleep on the advice of the vet to end their suffering.

Ian Muttitt, chief inspector for the RSPCA's special operations unit, said: "It was clear to me that the person responsible for these birds has an unhealthy interest in cockfighting and was keeping and training these birds for the purpose of animal fighting."

As well as the suspended prison sentence, Price was sentenced to 20 rehabilitation activity days, 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay a £156 victim surcharge and £400 in costs.

Price was also disqualified from keeping hens and cockerels for 12 months, the RSPCA said.

The surviving birds were taken into the RSPCA's care and were subsequently rehomed.