Thug who brutally beat, choked and strangled terrified Cockapoo escapes jail | UK | News | EUROtoday

A thug has prevented jail after being caught on CCTV punching and choking two canines in distressing footage.

Thomas Hardy, 32, was seen punching his Cockapoo 5 occasions earlier than strangling her, compressing her chest between his legs and swinging her round by the neck. One clip confirmed him lifting the Cockapoo earlier than kicking her and smashing the safety digital camera that caught the harrowing footage.

The footage was taken in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, in County Durham on July 18 2023. He was additionally seen grabbing one other canine by the neck on July 28 earlier than violently placing him on a lead, dropping him to the ground, and yanking him off his entrance toes.

The RSPCA was given the footage by police who launched an investigation. Hardy, 32, admitted two fees of pointless struggling by inflicting blunt power trauma, bodily violence, and intimidatory behaviour. He was given a 12-week jail sentence for every offence — suspended for twenty-four months — when he was sentenced at Teesside Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 30.

He was additionally banned from preserving animals for 12 years. Police, accompanied by an RSPCA inspector, visited the flat on August 2 final yr and entry was pressured resulting from considerations after there was no reply.

In written proof to the court docket, the RSPCA inspector stated: “Inside the property was a light brown Cockapoo type dog, she was very nervous and cowering down. The flat the dog was living in was very unkempt and smelt of excrement and had faeces littered around. The dog was seized by the police and placed into the care of the RSPCA and I put her in my vehicle.”

The different canine, who did not belong to Hardy, was not seen on the flat and the animal’s whereabouts are unknown.

In written proof to the court docket the vet who examined the feminine Cockapoo and considered the CCTV footage, stated: “The individual in the videos is clearly seen to hit, choke, kick and throw the tan cockapoo. There is no reason to treat any animal in this way. The dog will have suffered physical pain and in addition showed clear signs of emotional distress.”

The vet stated Hardy had inflicted ache and worry on each canines and so they had suffered unnecessarily consequently.

Magistrates heard that on August 6 Hardy was resulting from be interviewed by an RSPCA inspector at a police station about what had occurred, however he failed to show up.

On September 1, throughout one other go to to Prior Court the charity’s inspector was advised he had left the property, and additional makes an attempt to make contact with him have been unsuccessful. Hardy, who will be unable to contest his ban for 10 years, was additionally given 10 rehabilitation days and advised to attend a considering expertise programme and pay prices of £600.

Speaking after the conclusion of the case, RSPCA Chief Inspector Mark Gent stated: “The video footage of these dogs being abused by Hardy multiple times was very difficult to watch. It’s hard to understand how someone can treat animals with such contempt and cruelty, and we will never know, as the defendant refused to be interviewed about it. We’d sincerely like to thank the police and the security staff for their assistance in this case which has been upsetting for everyone involved.”

The feminine Cockapoo was sorted at a non-public boarding facility on behalf of the RSPCA and has since been fortunately rehomed.