A BRYNMAWR man has been banned for keeping animals for life after swinging a dog around his head "like it was a lasso".

Paul Walters, 40, of Alma Street, Brynmawr, was also ordered to do 275 hours of unpaid community work when he was sentenced at Abergavenny Magistrates' Court .

Walters had been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a black and tan terrier at the same court on April 16 in a case brought by the RSPCA.

Aled Watkins, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court how at 10.30pm on 20 October 2007, Lesley Rosser and Ross Morris discovered Walters physically abusing the animal as they walked their pets along Alma Road.

Mr Watkins said: "They heard a man swearing and looked to see the defendant swinging a rope around his head like it was a lasso. They heard a high pitched whining sound and realised that he had a small dog attached to it.

"There was then a thud as the dog hit into a traffic sign. One of the witnesses said the dog was shaking like it had hypothermia. It was a deliberate act of drunken cruelty."

While there were no obvious physical injuries to the dog, RSPCA inspector Simon Evans obtained a veterinary report which suggested the dog had a fear of men and the possibility it had suffered concussion or whiplash-like injuries.

David Lewis, defending, said that Walters, who had drunk four pints of alcohol on the night of the incident, had kept dogs all his life but had never been in court on related charges before.

"While the dog wasn't visibly injured, it was obviously an unnecessary act. And while it doesn't excuse the behaviour, it was accepted by the previous owner of the dog that it was abused in the past and was already timid," he added.

Walters is a full-time carer for his disabled 85-year-old father. Chairwoman of the bench Lady Diana Hayman-Joyce said: "This is a serious enough offence for a community sentence to be passed.

"Over a period of 12 months you will serve it in the community by undertaking 275 hours of unpaid work."

Walters was also ordered to pay £250 towards the prosecution costs and £250 to the RSPCA for care of the dog and vets bills.

The terrier has now been re-homed in the Newport area.

12:08pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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