TWO Blackburn men involved in an organised dog fight have been warned they may face prison.

Blackburn magistrates heard one of the dog handlers filmed the fight on his mobile phone.

But the footage was eventually presented to police and the RSPCA by an ex-girlfriend who had blue-toothed it to her own phone when Aftab Razzaq was out of the room.

Razzaq, 25, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to causing an animal fight to take place on September 8 2008 and causing unnecessary suffering to a pit bull terrier.

A charge of causing a dog fight to take place in March was withdrawn.

Ussman Hussain, 22, of St James Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to taking part in a dog fight.

Charges of causing an animal fight to take place and being present at a dog fight were withdrawn.

The magistrates ordered the preparation of pre-sentence reports with all options including custody open to the sentencing bench on November 27.

An allegation that Rizwan Khalid, 20, of Boland Street, Blackburn, caused suffering to a dog was adjourned to the same date and two similar charges against Mehjabeen Ashraf, 23, of Clinton Street, were withdrawn.

Chris Wyatt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the evidence came from video footage from a mobile phone belonging to Razzaq.

Mr Wyatt said a number of people had gathered on the land in Troy Street on the day of the incident.

“The dog fight which subsequently took place has been filmed by someone who knew it was going to happen which suggests to me there was some pre-planning,” said Mr Wyatt.

The magistrates watched the video footage which showed a Staffordshire bull terrier and a pit bull terrier fighting although still on their leads.

There was also footage of the two dogs either side of a fence snarling and barking at each other.

“The owners are effectively goading the dogs to fight and we say that was in preparation for the later incident,” said Mr Wyatt.

Peter King, defending Hussain, claimed his client was only out walking the family dog and had not gone to Troy Street for a pre-arranged fight.

Mr King said the Staffordshire bull terrier was a family pet.

Roger Pickles, defending Razzaq, said the incident was more of a “test fight”.

“The dogs fight with each other for about 40 seconds and are then pulled apart,” said Mr Pickles.

“He accepts you will be looking at all options including custody.”