Man Who Punched and Kicked Dog ‘May’ Face Jail

Published on October 16, 2008 by Jennifer White · 4 Comments

A man is facing jail for a drunken attack on his pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Manchester Evening News reports John Martell, 40, of Mulberry Court flats in Salford, lashed out in the communal lift of his block of flats, where he repeatedly stamped, kicked and punched his dog.

CCTV footage captured the incident back in April 2008, when a security guard seen the attack and quickly alerted police.

David McCormick, prosecuting, said RSPCA officers accompanied police to the flat where they confiscated the dog.

He said “The defendant appeared to be under the influence of drink. He said he slapped the dog because it urinated in the lift”.

Reports from the court said magistrates were shown the shocking evidence of Martell staggering before he punched, kicked and stamped on the dog before eventually dragging the dog out of the lift by its lead. Whilst the CCTV footage was played in the courts, Martell buried his head in his hands.

A defendant for Mr Martell, claims the attack was the final straw as Mr Martell was angry at the dog earlier jumping up at a child and urinating in the lift. He claimed he had an argument with his girlfriend and went to take the dog a walk for some fresh air. Martell told the court “I wasn’t having a good day. I was having a really bad day, in fact. He went on to claim that the dog was ‘his life’ and responded to a possible 12 month sentence “If I get sent away I won’t be home for Christmas. I’ve got a baby daughter”.

He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing it physical torment. He was released on bail on the condition he does not own or keep another animal and is due to be sentenced on November 4.

Cathy Hyde of the RSPCA spoke of the attack as “One of the worst unprovoked attacks on an animal I’ve ever seen”.

The animal, Maddison, is now in the care of the RSPCA and is looking to be re homed.