A PET owner who broke a young puppy's ribs in a fit of temper has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Kevin Raymond Young, 43, has also been banned from keeping dogs for seven years and his former pet is in the hands of the RSPCA.
York Magistrates Court heard that it had been badly treated before it belonged to Young, of Eldon Street, The Groves, York.
District judge Mr Kitson said that on May 9, 2002, in a prolonged bout of temper, Young beat it so severely, he broke three of its ribs and caused other injuries.
He jailed the 43-year-old for three months. But he suspended the sentence for 12 months because Young had himself suffered abuse while in custody and had been suffering from mental health problems at the time of the offence.
He also ordered Young to pay £250 prosecution costs.
Young had denied animal cruelty to a terrier type dog at Fold Court, at Buttercambe, near Stamford Bridge, but was convicted at a trial.
In mitigation, he told the district judge about the civil and criminal cases in which he had been involved as a witness at the time and that he had been suffering from post traumatic stress.
He lives on benefits.
Updated: 11:04 Thursday, March 27, 2003
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