CONVICTED (2023) | Harry Booth, born c. 1996, of Dalebury Road, Tooting SW17 7HH – kicked his dog in the head during an angry outburst.
Harry Booth appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on November 8, 2023, where he pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of affray.
The court heard that in Brighton on May 17, 2022, he kicked a rottweiler repeatedly to the head in what was described as a “psychotic episode”.
Booth was “extremely unwell” when he attacked the dog after a row in Budgens in Queens Road, central Brighton, in the early hours.
Prosecuting, Benjamin Parkinson said Booth’s dog had lunged at a customer after he went into the Budgens at about 1am.
He said: “The defendant and the customer had a verbal argument and the dog again lunged at them.
“The defendant took the muzzle off the dog and made threats towards the customer, and threw a bottle.
“The customer paid and left the shop. The defendant made a threat to fight a member of staff.
“CCTV captures the defendant’s behaviour outside the shop and shows him kicking the dg multiple times.
“Police attended, and the defendant gave a false name and date of birth and could be hard saying on body worn camera footage ‘F*** the law.’”
The incident of affray took place on the same day during an altercation with train staff.
The court was told that Booth used his dog as a weapon during that incident.
Defending, Alison Reedy said Booth had suffered from mental health episodes since his teens, had been sectioned several times and sent to mental hospitals across the country.
But it was only recently he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was now receiving treatment for that and was “in a much better place.”
She said when he was told what he had been charged with, his main concern was his dog.
She said: “He’s clearly very fond of his dog and wants the best for him. He’s a lovely dog.
“He would never harm that dog intentionally – he’s horrified that he has done.
“He’s someone who forms a very strong bond with animals. He was able to give the dog a good life. They loved each other.”
Sentencing | six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. Disqualified from keeping pets for two years (expires November 2025) and the rottweiler was confiscated from him.