POLICE on Teesside have seized four pit bull-type dogs and arrested five people after a series of morning raids to target an alleged dog fighting ring.
More than 50 officers swooped on five houses in a series of co-ordinated raids in east Cleveland after seeing mobile phone footage of organised dog fights.
One of the arrested men was found hiding in a cupboard during today's raids at houses in the Eston, South Bank and Grangetown areas of Cleveland.
Inspector Mike Cane said: "Today's raids were the culmination of two weeks of intensive police activity after we came into possession of mobile phone footage showing particularly savage dog fighting.
"Five dogs were recovered, four pit bull-type dogs and a terrier which we believe is used to bait the dogs.
"We are extremely pleased at the result.
"The mobile phone footage was particularly sickening and you have to ask yourself why people would get involved with this."
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