A cruel son beat his dad’s terrified cocker spaniel in the street before trying to stuff the motionless dog into a public recycling bin.
Adam Lawford, 41, of Lyn Grove, Kingskerswell, Devon, was banned from keeping animals for five years after being convicted of abusing and intimidating his father’s dog, Brandy.
The incident happened in April last year, when members of the public saw a shirtless man beating the young spaniel during a walk.
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Witnesses said Brandy tried to break free and ran between parked cars before the man grabbed him and shook him.
They also reported seeing the dog slammed into the pavement from a height, before being carried through the streets slumped over the man’s shoulder as though unconscious.
CCTV footage along the route confirmed the sightings, as reported by Need To Know
Eyewitnesses said Lawford then picked Brandy up by his back legs and tried to stuff him into a recycling bin.
Passersby who attempted to intervene were reportedly sworn at and told to “get back in their car”, while Brandy appeared to be “scared stiff”.
Police stopped Lawford and took the dog to a vet, before contacting the RSPCA to investigate.
The 11-month-old spaniel was examined by a vet, who found mild abrasions to his chin and upper lip, moderate bruising to his abdomen and a wound to his head and right ear.
The injuries appeared to be less than 24 hours old and were likely to have been sustained during the incident.
RSPCA Inspector Jim Farr, who investigated the case, said the dog was very timid during his stay at the vets, despite generally having a sweet temperament.
A vet report stated: “Although Brandy sustained minor physical injuries from his experience, he was not protected from suffering as defined by the Animal Welfare Act.
“He suffered both physical trauma evident in his injuries and mental trauma shown by his timidness in an otherwise sweet-natured dog.”
Lawford denied wrongdoing and claimed witnesses had made up the allegations.
But at Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (21 Oct), District Judge Smith described the incident as an appalling offence.
The judge said he was satisfied by the witness evidence and CCTV, despite Lawford rejecting the negative comments made about the crime.
Lawford was disqualified from keeping all animals for five years, with no appeal permitted for at least three years.
He was also handed a two-year community order, a probation requirement and an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement for 120 days.
He was ordered to pay a £360 fine, £700 in costs and a £144 victim surcharge.
Brandy was signed over to the RSPCA by his owner, Lawford’s father, and later rehomed.
RSPCA Inspector Sarah Morris, who assisted with the case, said: “There is absolutely no excuse for treating any animal in this way.
“Brandy must’ve been scared and incredibly distressed during this ordeal.
“And the various passersby who witnessed it were also very upset by what they had seen.
“Thankfully, after everything Brandy has been through, he is now recovered and in a loving new home.”
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