Thug jailed for beating dog is freed

A recovering drug addict from the Black Country who was jailed for 22 weeks after brutally beating his dog with a baseball bat has won his appeal for freedom.

Mark Dixon, aged 23, of Radnor Green, Hateley Heath, West Bromwich, left the Staffordshire bull terrier with six fractured bones, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

A neighbour of Dixon's had heard him "gratifying" himself by repeatedly striking the dog with the bat. Recorder Richard Benson QC told Dixon his treatment of the dog was "absolutely disgraceful" and his actions clearly merited a prison sentence.

He added: "This is one of the most unpleasant bits of bullying we have heard about. You not only mistreated this dog by not feeding him but you beat it, you beat it and you beat it using a weapon, a baseball bat."

But Recorder Benson ruled he would allow an appeal by Dixon against the 22-week sentence imposed by Warley Magistrates and let him have his freedom.

Mrs Gaynor Sutton, prosecuting, said RSPCA inspectors went to Dixon's flat after an anonymous telephone call and found the emaciated pet.

There were bloodstains inside the flat, a large amount of swelling to the dog's face, back and neck and a number of puncture wounds to its face.The pet was taken to a veterinary surgeon and X-rays revealed six fractures to its cheekbones, a shin bone and a rib, while the animal also had a dislocated hip.

Mrs Sutton added: "The vet said Dixon had been extremely cruel to the dog and it had suffered a number of traumatic injuries over a considerable period of time."

Mr Rashid Mohammed, defending, said that after the incidents involving the dog Dixon had been given a 12 month jail sentence for burglary and had beaten his addiction to Class A drugs while in custody.

"He is disgusted with the way he behaved towards this dog," said Mr Mohammed. "At the time he had been using cocaine and cannabis on a regular basis and he was, in his own words, often off his head."

The court was told the dog, which was named Hope by RSPCA officers, had made a full recovery and had been placed in a loving home. Recorder Benson reduced the prison term to 20 weeks, suspended the sentence for two years and placed Dixon under a two-year supervision order.

A lifetime ban on owning a pet, imposed by magistrates, will continue to stand.