CRIMINALS who forced animals to fight to the death had their jail terms cut by judges who were bound by a legal technicality.

Wayne Lumsden and Connor Patterson, both 23, were branded “sick” by animal cruelty campaigners for organising fights between cats, dogs, foxes, hens and a badger.

They had their sentences cut by judges at Newcastle Crown Court, however, after they were not given credit for pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

The court was shown mobile phone footage of animals brutally attacking one another while the pair could be heard laughing and joking.

Patterson, of Whitfield, near Hexham, was jailed for 20 weeks by South East Northumberland magistrates after admitting two counts of causing an animal fight, but walked free from court after Recorder David Gordon cut his sentence to 16 weeks yesterday.

Lumsden, of Park Road, Lynemouth, Northumberland, had 26 weeks cut to 21 by Judge John Evans at a separate hearing.

He admitted willfully killing a badger and two counts of causing an animal fight.

Louise Robertson, deputy head of campaigns for the League Against Cruel Sport, said: “It is quite staggering than someone can get sick pleasure from pitting one animal against another and watching them fight until their death.