IT is not often the RSPCA decide to prosecute offenders but there was one particular case in Cumbria this year that left officers with no choice.

RSPCA staff, along with Cumbria Police, launched an investigation after receiving a number of complaints about disturbing photos and videos of cockfighting and hare coursing in the county.

The charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) gathered evidence from the posts on Facebook. Videos showed cockerels fighting and there were images of the defendants with a dog and dead hare with the comment ‘coursing today’.

Another video showed a dog with a squealing hare in its mouth.

When warrants were carried out, officers found cockerels being kept in cages and four birds were seized.

One, which had a leg wound and a parasite infection, was tied to a heavy object with a cord around its leg and was in a hazardous area surrounded by nails and building materials.

Another bird had an infection between the toes and a third drank continuously for 15 minutes after officers gave it water before being loaded for travelling.

RSPCA inspector Pippa Boyd, who led the investigation, said: “These poor cockerels were being kept in unsuitable conditions and had been subjected to a serious level of cruelty - being forced to fight.

“The videos and photos posted online were brutal and barbaric. And it was clear the defendants had enjoyed every minute of the cruelty.

“They were not remorseful and had clearly offended on many occasions so we took the unusual decision to pursue a prosecution, despite them all being under-18."

Videos and photos posted online had sick comments alongside them such as ‘I had a fight yesterday… he got blinded and knocked out so I killed it… it was some bird non stop hitting to the head and neck’ and ‘She fast enough…am gonna kill all these summer hares around here’.

Three teenage boys were prosecuted for offences under the Animal Welfare Act and Hunting Act.

A 16-year-old was disqualified from keeping animals for three years and ordered to pay £750 in costs; a 15-year-old was disqualified from keeping poultry for two years and ordered to complete a youth rehabilitation order with 20 activity days and pay £750 in costs; and a second 16-year-old was ordered to pay a £100 fine and £500 in costs.