CONVICTED (2014) | Alfie Sydney Loft, born 12/11/1994, formerly from Hatfield but as of 2020 living at Guinness House, Little Hardings, Welwyn Garden City AL7 2EN – filmed swinging a chihuahua by her lead
Loft admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dog after swinging her around in the air.
The dog belonged to a woman he had just met while drinking with friends at a pub in Stevenage. She asked him to take the dog for a walk while he and three friends went to a nearby shop to buy more alcohol.
Loft’s lawyer, Natasha Patel, said her client was trying to encourage the dog to walk by pulling on her lead when she lifted into the air for the first time.
“The people he was with began laughing at the incident and that has almost egged him on,” she said. “He knows that was wrong. He doesn’t remember much of what happened.”
She added: “He’s disgusted at himself, they were his own words to me. He feels humiliated that this incident has occurred. He has also said he would like to write a letter to apologise to the owner of the dog to show that he is truly sorry.
“He does love dogs himself, although he doesn’t own any himself.”
Although the dog was not injured, her owner said she was distressed and was acting out of character. She was told about what happened by a witness.
The court heard that Loft, who was kept in custody over the weekend, was signed off work with depression.
Sentencing: 12-week curfew. Ordered to pay £250 in compensation and £145 in court costs. Banned from owning any animal for two years (expired August 2016).