Wilson was found guilty of supplying a Pit Bull Terrier type dog “Pretty Girl” for dog fighting on at least two occasions, and three charges of “breach of duty of care” to three dogs. Two of these charges related to inappropriate living conditions for Pit Bull Terrier type dogs “Chico” and “Jesus” and one of failing to treat an injury to a Pit Bull Terrier type puppy named “Naughty”.  He was found not guilty in relation to other breach duty of care charges relating to living conditions for two other dogs, and eye infections suffered by several of the dogs.

In August 2018, RSPCA Inspectors executed a warrant at a Kingsthorpe property and initially seized five dogs belonging to Mr Wilson. Another dog was later seized from a property occupied by Wilson in Toowoomba. The Inspectors also seized items related to organised dog fighting. These included a treadmill with a leash attached and a break stick used to separate fighting dogs. Inspectors also later seized dog semen from a vet. Evidence was heard in court that the stored semen was from a dog called ‘Snores’ owned by Mr Wilson, which had a dogfighting pedigree.

Vets examined all seized dogs and the three adult dogs all had scarring which experts told the court was consistent with organised dogfighting and inconsistent with accidental fights or pig hunting. The dogs Chico and Jesus were confined on thick collars and tethered by heavy chains attached to axels embedded in the ground. The manner in which they were kept was also, according to expert evidence accepted by the court, consistent with the way organised dog-fighting dogs are kept. The puppy Naughty was suffering from an untreated broken foot.

WILSON was prosecuted following protracted investigations into organised dogfighting by the RSPCA Inspectorate Taskforce, which culminated in warrants being executed at several properties around Queensland. This was the first time RSPCA Qld had brought in Janette Reevers, a dogfighting expert from the USA and the Magistrate stated that she was a most impressive witness.

RSPCA Prosecutor, barrister Kate Gover, will be asking the court to sentence Mr Wilson to serve an actual period of imprisonment. The prosecution are also seeking orders prohibiting Mr Wilson from owning dog fighting dogs for life, and transferring ownership of the seized dogs and evidence to RSPCA.

Several other people who were persons of interest in the same Taskforce investigation, and who were connected with WILSON, have been convicted in relation to organised dogfighting offences, including:

Bradd O’KEEFFE – convicted in Richmond Magistrates Court on 20 November 2019, and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, released on parole after 2 months. He was also ordered to pay $1,699.10 legal costs and prohibited from possessing dogs of dogfighting breeds for life.

Jared TRENEAR – convicted in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 3 July 2019, and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, released on parole after serving 1 month. He was also fined $800 in relation to other breach of duty of care offences and ordered to pay a total of $8080.80 in vet and legal costs, and prohibited from possessing dogs of dogfighting breeds for life.

Josh BASKERVILLE – convicted in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on 8 March 2019, in relation to duty of care charges as well, and sentenced to probation for 3 years (the maximum period possible), and ordered to pay $3,419.48 in vet and legal costs, and prohibited from possessing dogs of dogfighting breeds for life. In this case, the Magistrate made it clear that the only reason BASKERVILLE was not sentenced to a period of actual imprisonment, is because of tragic circumstances relating to the death of