A man kept two pit bull terriers for dog fighting despite being banned from keeping the animals.

Tony Barbara was also found to have "breaking sticks" to train the dogs to fight in the underground practice.

The 52-year-old was found guilty of breaching the Dangerous Dogs Act by keeping two female pit bulls, Kira and Jackie, at his home in Newmilns, East Ayrshire, in November 2014.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Thursday, Barbara was also found guilty of being in possession of equipment to be used in dog fighting including syringes, medications and breaking sticks after Scottish SPCA officers raided his home.

He had previously been served with a order disqualifying him from keeping dogs for ten years at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London in July 2013.

Barbara was found to be in breach of this order, as well as acting to cause the dogs unnecessary suffering by engaging in animal fighting, contrary to the animal welfare legislation.

The court previously heard Barbara told animal welfare officers he had been involved in dog fighting for 20 or 30 years and had only seen one dog die - a terrier that "was still wagging its tail as it died".

Barbara was also found guilty of behaving and a threatening and abusive manner in Newmilns on October 24, 2014.

Sentence was deferred for reports until later this month.