A person who beat his canine with a brush - resulting in the animal needing his leg amputated - has been jailed for 2 years after being prosecuted by the RSPCA.

Brian Hughes, from Bradford, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday 15 February after being discovered responsible at a trial final month.

During sentencing, the choose instructed Hughes he was "not match to be close to animals", and gave him an instantaneous jail sentence and a 15-year ban on protecting animals. The court docket heard that the canine - a German shepherd-type known as Caesar - was taken to a vet by a member of the general public on 8 September 2022, after he was discovered tied to a fence.

The vet who examined Caesar mentioned in a press release offered to the court docket: "[The member of the public] fearful that he [the dog]) was going to be killed if left along with his proprietor. Caesar was carried into the surgical procedure unable to walk. On arrival he was unable to face, nevertheless, he might achieve this with assist although he drained simply."

Due to issues for his welfare, Caesar was handed over to the RSPCA, who started an investigation. A second vet examination confirmed that Caesar had a damaged leg, which later needed to be amputated.

The vet's assertion mentioned: "[Hughes] describes being bitten by the canine when attempting to take away him from his mattress, a sustained attack by the canine is described – throughout which the proprietor admits to having overwhelmed the canine with a brush deal with over the pinnacle and presumably the again, earlier than then tying the canine to a gate. Blunt trauma similar to that described can be a constant discovering with the accidents and bruising famous within the preliminary witness assertion across the neck (from being tied to a gate forcefully) and being overwhelmed with the broom on the physique.

"The fracture and the numerous quantities of contemporary bruising current on each hind limbs can be in step with a extreme blunt pressure trauma – seemingly from 'in entrance' of the canine. The fractured limb has seemingly taken the primary impression, with the opposite limb bruising a results of extra minor contact from the identical blow."

The vet confirmed the canine confirmed no indicators of aggression of their care regardless of being in an unfamiliar atmosphere. They added: "I might additionally recommend that it is most unlikely for this canine to have reacted in such an aggressive method in the direction of the proprietor solely on account of being in ache when attempting to be moved. Whilst in my care, in an unfamiliar veterinary atmosphere, regardless of being in appreciable ache and discomfort, the canine at no stage confirmed any indicators of aggression, even upon manipulation and examination of the affected limb."

Inspector Jo Hartley, who investigated for the RSPCA, mentioned: "Caesar was in a nasty method when he arrived in our care and he had been so badly injured that he wanted his leg amputated. Thankfully, he has made an incredible restoration and has been fortunately rehomed.

"We're actually grateful to everybody who helped in our investigation. Caesar has now bought a second probability at life and he's a contented boy now."