A police officer who attended the scene of an alleged illegal cockfight told the court that he saw blood splatters up the wall.

A police officer who attended the scene of an alleged illegal cockfight told the court that he saw blood splatters up the wall.

Romford Magistrates’ Court heard how police attended the home of Mohammed Asab in Seven Kings on January 2 this year.

Mr Asab, Akhtar Hussain, 47, of Greenhill Grove, Manor Park, and four other people are on trial.

Yesterday, Hazel Stevens, prosecuting for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), told the court that police had executed a search warrant at Mr Asab’s home at 5pm, on January 2.

Giving evidence, Pc Kinsey confirmed that police attended and searched the premises.

Upon entering a shed in the back garden, the officer said he saw “lots of blood splatters” on the wall and “fresh breast feathers” on the floor.

Under cross-examination, when the officer was asked if he was an “expert in feathers”, he confirmed he had a lifelong hobby of keeping chickens.

Pc Kinsey told the court that Mr Asab explained that he bred champion chickens for show.

Another officer found an injured cockerel inside a grey cat box behind the shed, which Mr Asab said had been attacked by a fox.

Ten cockerels, two hens, two mobile phones, equipment associated with cockfighting and a blood covered towel were seized and removed from the scene.

Mr Asab has denied seven charges including causing an animal fight involving cockerels, taking part in an animal fight involving cockerels, kept or trained cockerels for use in connection with an animal fight, kept premises for use for an animal fight, and causing unnecessary suffering to a cockerel by failing to provide veterinary care.

Mr Hussain, Mohamed Arif, 43, of Fairfield Road, Ilford; ; Mehtab Ahmed, 41, of Celebration Way, Chingford; aAltaf Hussain, 54, of Parkstone Road, Coventry, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named, are allcharged with being present at an animal fight involving cockerels.

All have pleaded not guilty.

The trial is expected to run until tomorrow.