CONVICTED (2016) | Jordan Smith, born 6 June 1995, of Middleton Road, Heywood OL10 2HU – brutally kicked, punched and whipped dog with a belt during a three-month campaign of abuse

Smith was seen kicking, punching and whipping the male brindle-coloured Staffy with a belt over a three-month period. The shocking attacks were witnessed by his neighbours, who caught some of horrific violence on camera.

Smith was first spotted beating the dog in July 2014. The neighbours also witnessed an attack in September 2014 where they heard the 18-month-old dog yelping in the back yard.

The son ran upstairs and saw Smith attacking the dog in the yard from a bedroom window. He describe seeing Smith striking the Staffy with the back of his hand before clenching his fist and punching him several times in the stomach and aiming at least five kicks at him.

The dog was pinned against a fence panel and the blows were so powerful the fence panel began to bend.

Six days later they witnessed another attack in which Smith began by kicking the animal at least four times. He then went inside the house and brought out a belt which he used to whip the dog nine times before kicking him again. This attack was captured by the neighbours on their mobile phone; however only Smith was visible in the footage and not the animal so inspectors needed more conclusive evidence.

But on September 29th there was another incident, this time fully captured on camera, where Smith punched and kicked the dog several times before throwing one of his boots at him, hitting the dog hard on the neck. He then put a mountain bike in front of him trapping him in the yard before eventually letting him back inside around half an hour later.

On none of the occasions did the dog attempt to move but could be heard yelping, crying and making a retching sound.

Dog wardens attended Smith’s house on October 19, 2014, and he gave up the animal who was taken away to be re-homed and he was issued a court summons.

Smith admitted a charge of causing the animal unnecessary suffering. The case was adjourned by magistrates for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Steve Connor, defending, said: “I concede the video footage shows there are a number of aggravating features including hitting the dog with an object.

“However there is significant mitigation in this case which will be outlined in due course.”

Sentencing: details unknown. Smith failed to show up for his sentencing hearing in April 2016 and remained at large for several months.

Although he was eventually arrested (the moment even being caught on camera and shared to Facebook!), the newspapers didn’t follow up on his animal cruelty conviction.

Manchester Evening News
ITV News