The defendant faced 4 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to his German Shepard. This included blunt force trauma which led to the amputation of the dog's right hind leg.

On the morning of trial, the defendant pleaded guilty to 2 counts, including the most serious count of blunt force trauma.

The sentencing Judge agreed with Joel’s assessment of it being a category A1 offence, describing it as an extremely serious case of its type.

The defendant was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Joel also secured an order disqualifying him from owning any animals for a period of 15 years.

Passing sentence, the Judge described the defendant as a “thoroughly unpleasant individual who should be nowhere near any animals”.

Joel is regularly instructed by the RSPCA and is a CPS Grade 2 prosecutor.