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Dudley Payne, 28, of Braintree Avenue, Penwortham, was convicted of killing 11-week-old American bully breed Rocko after he was prosecuted by the RSPCA.
He was arrested in February after reports of physical abuse on the puppy in Balcarres Road, Leyland, including blunt force trauma and burns to the skin.
The catalogue of injuries inflicted on Rocko included severe head trauma, a ruptured liver, a partial hip fracture and a prolapsed eyeball.
The young pup – who Payne had only owned for six days – also had cigarette burns on his groin and abrasions consistent with being scratched by fingernails.
Payne was sent to prison for two years and nine months after he was found guilty at Lancaster Crown Court this morning (Friday, October 20).
He was also banned from keeping animals for 15 years.
Vet says post mortem examination was the ‘worst’ they’d ever seen
RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley stated it was probably the most stunning and violent act of deliberate cruelty in direction of an animal she had ever investigated in her eight-year profession with the animal welfare charity.
Payne had denied inflicting pointless struggling to Rocko – who he had introduced from a childhood pal – claiming the accidents had been brought on when he was performing CPR on the canine at his home in Balcarres Road, Leyland.
But a jury at Preston Crown Court took simply 20 minutes to search out him unanimously responsible of animal cruelty after a four-day trial final month.
Jurors had heard that the RSPCA was contacted by a vet after Rocko was taken to them on February 2 final yr however was useless on arrival.
A publish mortem confirmed the puppy had suffered a ruptured liver, head trauma, a partial hip fracture and abrasions in keeping with being scratched by fingernails, in addition to cigarette burns to his groin space.
There have been additionally accidents to his stomach and lacerations to his liver and he had inhaled the contents of his abdomen.
In a press release learn in court docket on the trial, inspector Dingley stated: “The vet received the post mortem results back and immediately contacted the RSPCA. He told me on the phone it was the worst post mortem examination report he had ever read.”
A vet who additionally gave proof in court docket stated Rocko’s accidents advised “intentional hurt,” disputing the argument put ahead by Payne’s authorized staff that the puppy had sustained his accidents on account of Payne performing CPR after his pet had developed respiratory difficulties.
The puppy had been seen on the vet three days earlier than for his vaccinations and was reported to be vivid, alert and responsive.
When interviewed below warning at a police station by inspector Dingley, Payne answered no remark to all questions.
Payne had been remanded in custody because the conclusion of the trial.
Speaking after at the moment’s listening to, inspector Dingley stated: “I will never be able to comprehend what happened to Rocko and why such a young animal was treated in such a cruel way.
“This investigation will stay with me forever, but I’m pleased that we were able to get some justice for this little puppy, and I think the long custodial sentence reflects the gravity of this case.”
