CONVICTED (2017) | John Sawrey, born 25 September 1979, of Goldsmith Street, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 5RJ – struck a dog, before slamming her on the pavement and hitting her again

Sawrey was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Staffordshire bull terrier, Storm, after being spotted mistreating her by witnesses .

Some witnesses said the dog yelped as Sawrey hit and slammed her onto the ground.

Sawrey denied the offence and told the court he was trying to calm and control Storm when she became excited and was jumping up after seeing children running.

Prosecutor, Mr Lee Dacre, said four independent witnesses reported what they saw to the police.

Kelsey Leyland was on the opposite side of the street with her partner, friend and dog. Miss Leyland told the court she saw Sawrey hit Storm in the face and informed the people she was with.

She said: “He picked the dog up from the back of the neck, he put it to the floor with force and hit it in the face. The dog yelped.” Her friend approached Sawrey and the defendant had said Storm was being playful.

Miss Leyland’s partner, Gadge Gelling, told the hearing: “Kelsey said ‘oh my God, that man has just hit his dog’.

“When I looked over he has the dog in the air and he aggressively puts it down. He then hit the top end of the dog.”

Defence solicitor, Miss Karen Templeton, questioned whether the witnesses were mistaken by the movements as it was dark. Miss Leyland and Mr Gelling said they agreed Storm could have been picked up by her harness, as Sawrey suggested, rather than the scruff of her neck.

Mr Gelling phoned 999 and the group followed Sawrey home after the incident.

The court heard Sawrey was a man of good character who had no previous cautions or convictions. He said he walks Storm twice a day.

The defendant told the court: “She is very playful, excitable and quite strong. The children ran past, Storm started trying to jump up. I was trying to keep her close to me in case she landed on one of them.

“I was telling her to calm down and telling her no. I grabbed her harness and put her down to the side of me. I put her down gently and she rolled on the floor.”

Mr Dacre suggested Sawrey had lost his temper, but Sawrey said: “No, it is incorrect.”

Miss Templeton said there were discrepancies with the witnesses and room for people to have been mistaken. The court heard that police examined Storm after the incident and she had no injuries and no fear of Sawrey. The experts said they were happy for Sawrey to keep Storm.

A vet report said Storm was well cared for, vaccinated, wormed and had no fear of her owner.

Sentencing: 100 hours unpaid work in the community; a total of £705 costs and charges. No ban on keeping animals.

The Mail