Pair jailed over pet dog's death

A couple who beat a dog to death before throwing it off their balcony were jailed for 12 weeks each today.

Sheena Spence broke down in tears at West Bromwich Magistrates Court as she and her husband Alexander were both sentenced.

The couple, of Charlemont Farm, West Bromwich, were also banned from keeping animals for life after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and two counts of failing to take reasonable steps to protect Laddie, a Scottish terrier.

The dog was the beloved pet of 86-year-old Nancy Howells, who Sheena worked for as a cleaner for 12 years. Mrs Howells was in hospital at the time and died just weeks later.

Mr James Cooper, prosecuting, told the court on the night of the offence Sheena, aged 62 and Alexander, aged 60, had both been drinking.

The animal was found dead on the floor outside their flat in Wyndmill Crescent the next morning and a post mortem revealed the dog had received a series of blows, suffered internal haemorrhaging and died as a result of its injuries.

Mr Shiva Misra, defending, said Mrs Spence had acted "totally out of character" and has since suffered nightmares, nervousness and she had been "grief stricken" since the event.

District judge Michael Morris also ordered the pair to pay costs of £250 each.