CONVICTED (2019) | Andrew Cook, born 14 May 1990, of Grebe Close, Waterlooville PO8 – left his ex-girlfriend’s six-month-old puppy ‘lifeless’ with a fractured skull and hip after kicking him in a fit of rage

Self-employed bricklayer Andrew Cook admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal following a violent assault on the defenceless Staffy puppy named Bronson.

The court heard Cook attacked the dog, who belonged to his former partner Paige Bowden, after returning home to find the dog had pooed and urinated inside.

Bronson was kicked with such force by Cook he suffered multiple injuries. He suffered a brain injury, internal bleeding, at least two broken bones, severe bruising around his left eye and even in his mouth.

When Ms Bowden came home and questioned Cook about the injuries, he said Bronson was ‘just sulking’ after being hurt by another dog owner on a walk.

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Sarah Huck said Cook’s temper flared and he later threatened to stamp on the dog’s head to ‘finish him off so there was no vets’ bills to pay’.

An estimated £5,000 has so far been spent on treating Bronson after he was assessed by staff at Vets 4 Pets, Sanctuary Vets and the RSPCA-owned Stubbington Ark in Fareham.

Bronson is now recovering back in the care of Ms Bowden, who dumped Cook – the father of her young son – after the dog attack.

Mitigating, lawyer Howard Barrington-Clark said Cook ‘couldn’t cope’ when he found the mess and kicked out in anger as if the puppy was an ‘inanimate object’, like a ‘door’.

‘We have probably all done it, or come perilously close to doing it,’ he said.

‘It’s as if that puppy, for a split-second, turned into an inanimate object.

‘The defendant wasn’t thinking straight and accepts it was completely wrong – he accepts complete guilt.’

He said Cook’s previous criminal record was a ‘lousy’ one but contained no similar incidents.

Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Charlotte Coggins said ‘justice has been done’ – but the case was among the ‘worst the group has seen in a long time’.

‘The injuries are absolutely awful,’ she said.

‘Thankfully [the dog] is recovering absolutely fine and he is back with his owner where, undoubtedly, he will be getting all the love he needs.’

Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months;100 hours of unpaid work; rehabilitation activity requirement comprising 21 sessions geared at reducing violent behaviour and 20 hours of activities. Total of £515 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.

The News