Scunthorpe man sent to prison for cockfighting

Julian Buxton (d.o.b 22/06/1965) of Queens Crescent, Keadby, Scunthorpe, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, 5 January.

At Doncaster Magistrates Court on 3 September 2025, he pleaded guilty to 14 offences under the Animal Welfare Act* - with four of these offences relating to animal fighting in that he kept a premises for use for animal fights, kept or trained gamecocks or cockerels and on two occasions caused an animal fight to take place, or attempted to do so.

The court heard that two digital devices (a phone and tablet) - the tablet belonging to Julian Buxton - had audio messages, video clips and messages relating to cockfighting. 

Several images showed a yellow pit with a brown carpet, and all of them featured images of two cockerels. Two videos showed two cockerels on rough ground together with wraps (which are used to minimise any injuries) on their legs inside a barn or other enclosure, which an RSPCA expert said "clearly depict a cockfighting sparring session".

Other videos showed gamecocks wearing leg straps (muffs), which the RSPCA expert felt "indicate this is a planned placing of two birds together for a training fight (sparring)." Other photos appeared to show a kit which an RSPCA expert felt would be used to attach plastic or metal onto the leg spurs of a fighting gamecock.

There were also messages where people were interested in buying paraphernalia which can be used in fighting, such as gloves, muff wraps and beak guards or interested in buying game-type birds.

RSPCA's Special Operations Unit cockfighting expert, Chief Inspector, Ian Mutitt, reviewed the material and concluded it "indicates a significant level of organisation and coordination of fighting bird acquisition, training of birds to fight and supplying birds with the ability to take part in organised cockfights".

He said the items in one video "form a kit for attaching and covering steel or plastic spurs" to a game cock. There is no other requirement to have these items collected together like this in day-to-day poultry keeping. In my opinion, these items form a kit to be used to aid the addition of metal or plastic spurs to a bird. This would only be required to fight birds."

Speaking after the case, Special Operations Unit Chief Inspector Will Mitchell: "This case sadly highlights that despite being outlawed almost 200 years ago, cockfighting still takes place today."

The other 10 welfare offences* in this case related to failing to provide for the needs of a number of dogs, cats, rabbits, pigeons and chickens.

Sheffield Crown Court heard on 19 October 2023 that Humberside Police conducted a warrant at Keadby, near Scunthorpe, with the RSPCA and two vets in attendance. Initially, it was thought there were around 200 animals, but there were 361 birds and many other animals.

In a witness statement provided to the court from one of the RSPCA Special Operations Unit Inspectors, "I could see that there were numerous outbuildings, hutches, sheds and barns all housing a number of different animals. The site was covered in rubbish and hazards such as wood, metal and wire. Near to this, there was a Belgian shepherd-type dog tethered on a chain. I could see that it had its left eye closed and there was a lot of swelling around the eye. 

"The vet identified a number of issues with the animals and started to examine them individually. It was estimated that there were over 200 animals, a lot of this being poultry."

One lot of poultry was inside a large outbuilding, which also contained the cats. Animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, pigeons and chickens were removed from the location. One dog was found at the premises with puppies and in the RSPCA's care, two dogs also went on to have litters.

The inspector said: "I noticed that it really smelt of ammonia in this building and that there were no scratching posts or bedding and that some of the cages had a build up of faeces in them."

The animals taken into the RSPCA's care went into emergency boarding and to RSPCA centres and once they were signed over officially into the care of the charity, they were happily rehomed.

At the sentencing hearing on 5 January, Buxton was handed 16 months imprisonment for the ‘fighting-related offences' to be served concurrently with each other and four months imprisonment for the welfare offences to be served concurrently with each other - but consecutive to the other offences. The total custodial term was 20 months and he was also disqualified from keeping animals for 15 years.

In mitigation, it was heard that the defendant had suffered bereavement at about the time he became involved in these offences. It was also noted that he had admitted the offences.

Speaking after sentencing, Chief Inspector Will Mitchell said: "This case involved a large number of animals who needed our help, along with a lot of evidence.

"We would like to thank Humberside Police for their assistance in playing such a crucial role in this case. We would also like to thank everyone who played a part in helping provide boarding for the large number of animals that were rescued. It's lovely that loving homes have been found for them, including the puppies and rabbits that were also born following the initial rescue."

Sergeant Kieran Taylor, formerly part of the Rural Task Force, said: "Tackling wildlife crime, poaching and cruelty to animals remains a national and collective priority. This case demonstrates best‑practice partnership working between Humberside Police and the RSPCA, from the execution of the initial warrant through to the full investigation, which has resulted in a sentence that will undoubtedly deter others from committing such barbaric acts against animals.

"We'll not tolerate the barbaric act of cockfighting, which causes unimaginable suffering to animals. This is a serious organised crime, and we remain committed to identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting those involved."

*Offences in full