A THUG who brutally punched and kicked his pet dog in a Chelmsford park has been told he can never own animals again.
Christopher Davies, 35, repeatedly punched his pet Staffordshire cross named Max on the muzzle, before delivering upper cuts to its lower jaw with a mobile phone and landing kicks in an unprovoked attack.
The entire incident, which took place in Central Park, was caught on CCTV cameras.
"The cameras captured the incident and it was quite clear the dog was being beaten for no apparent reason," said Paul Brookes, Chelmsford City Council's public health and protection services manager.
"The footage was shown to a vet who agreed that the animal would have suffered, and an officer from animal welfare also had the view that further action needed to be taken as it constituted an unprovoked attack."
Davies of Darnay Rise, Chelmsford, is the first person to be pursued by Chelmsford City Council using the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which allows local authorities to intervene and prevent cruelty to animals.
The dog Max was quickly removed from Davies' home the next day where it appeared very anxious and had a high temperature, which could have been as a result of stress.
At Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on June 4, Davies was given a 12-week suspended jail sentence and barred from ever keeping animals again after the attack on April 7.
But Davies failed to show up to his own trial on May 21 and he was found guilty in his absence of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. A warrant for his arrest was issued.
A week later Davies returned to court, citing a family bereavement as the reason for his previous absence, and he was also told to pay £1,000 legal costs.
"This attack was brutal, in a public place where children were present," said Anne Brewer, chairman of the magistrates' bench.
Defence lawyer Kate Armstrong, acting for Davies, told the court that he knew it was not the way to treat a dog and that he had expressed remorse for his actions.
Cllr Ian Grundy, Chelmsford City Council's cabinet member for safer communities, said: "This prosecution sends a clear message that abuse of animals will not be tolerated in Chelmsford."
Following the sentence, which strips Mr Davies of ownership of the abused Staffordshire Cross, the dog is now in kennels awaiting rehoming by the council.
Can you give Max a home? Call the Newsdesk on 01245 602721.
