14 January 2024 , 19:42
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A terrified XL Bully was heard screaming as it was being battered by its callous owner as a concerned neighbour recorded the attack, a court has heard.
The RSPCA seized Simba from cruel Connor Hudson at his flat in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, after receiving a sound recording of the dog in distress from a quick-thinking neighbour. The dog was later found to have substantial cuts and bruises to his head, which were inflicted by 'blunt force trauma'.
Hudson denied hurting his animal but later confessed after being found guilty of two animal welfare offences following a trial. At Birmingham Magistrates' Court, the 32-year-old was sentenced to 16 weeks suspended for 12 months and banned from keeping animals for 10 years. The attack on the dog took place on the morning of January 29 last year, BirminghamLive report.
Prosecutor Sarah Pratt said: "Another resident went down the lift to go outside and have a smoke. He heard shouting but couldn't make out what was being said. He also heard the sound of dogs screaming. He identified the noise was coming from Connor Hudson's flat. The witness started to record. The recording was short as he didn't want a confrontation."
She stated the neighbour called the police who attended Hudson's flat but did not feel they had power of entry so they advised the complainant to contact the RSPCA, who sent an inspector at 1.36pm that day. The court heard Hudson allowed the inspector in and they subsequently found Simba sitting on an arm chair with bruising. Another XL Bully was at the home but there were no concerns about it.
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Eventually Hudson allowed Simba to be taken to a vet after initially refusing. Ms Pratt stated there was 'extensive bruising' and cuts to the dog's head. She said: "The injuries are consistent with blunt force trauma consistent with slapping or beating with an object or hand."
Zulqarnain Saeed, defending, stated Hudson had expressed 'deep remorse' and was struggling with his mental health at the time whilst not taking his medication. He said: "He has changed the quality of his life. He doesn't try to minimise the offences. He said at the time his memory was very hazy. He didn't know what he was doing. We heard during the trial the injuries were quite substantial. He said he didn't intend to hurt him in that way. He got frustrated because he was jumping around in the bath. All he was trying to do was cut his nails. His frustration was taken out on the dog. He accepts it shouldn't have happened."
Hudson must complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity as part of his sentence. District Judge David Wain said: "Animals needs to be protected from harm. They don't go out to cause frustration and frustration can't be carried out on them. The pre-sentence report makes it clear your offending was impacted by your mental health. You have not sat idly you have engaged with mental health and are now undergoing treatment and support. That demonstrates there is a real prospect of rehabilitation."