Two cockfighters have been given suspended jail sentences after they posted gruesome videos online of the blood sport.

Bill Ripley, 45, and 61-year-old Moses Brinkley, both of Claywood Lane in Bean, appeared at Bexleyheath Magistrates’ Court for sentencing having previously admitted a number of offences connected with the sport.

The pair were investigated by the RSPCA’s special operations unit after the graphic footage was posted on Facebook.

Following raids on a travellers’ site in Bean, more than 240 cockerels were found, along with cockfighting trophies and paraphernalia.

A caravan was decorated with hundreds of photos and paintings depicting the fights and a homemade booklet – entitled Bill Ripley and his TyWon Shamo Chickens – was also found containing information and tips on breeding and training birds.

Officers were also able to identify the fight venues shown online around the site.

VIDEO: Warning: graphic images

RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who led the investigation, said: “There was also clothing, such as caps emblazoned with slogans, and even display cabinets full of spurs and muffs – all paraphernalia used for training and fighting.

“The videos show brutal, gruesome fights where birds fight until they’re left bloodied, wounded and exhausted.

“Cockfighting wasn’t just a hobby for these men - it was clearly their life.”

Messages discussing breeding and fighting cockerels, along with lots of videos of fights were found on seized mobile phones.

One of the videos documented a fight lasting 10 minutes in which the birds sparred and pecked until one was drenched in blood and the other collapsed, struggling to breathe.

RSPCA chief inspector and animal fighting expert Mike Butcher said: “Sometimes they’ll up the stakes to make the event more entertaining by attaching false spikes to cockerels’ legs or sharpening their spurs so they become more like weapons.

“One puncture with a spike can kill a bird in seconds.

“They will fight these birds to the death and if they win several fights they can quickly become a ‘champion’ bird, but as soon as the title has gone they are worthless to their owner.”

The pair pleaded guilty to five offences including being present at an animal fight, keeping a premises for use in an animal fight and keeping animals for use in fighting.

Ripley and Brinkley were given 12-month suspended sentences of 14 and 10 weeks respectively.

Both men were banned from keeping game fowl for two years and ordered to pay £865 in costs.