A REDDITCH man who drunkenly punched his dog in front of five witnesses appeared before Redditch Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday, November 24).
Ricky Portman, of Laurel Close, Mayfields pleaded guilty to failing to prevent the causing of unnecessary suffering to an animal in his care and was ordered to pay court fines of £235 and is disqualified from keeping any animals, apart from snakes, for the next 10 years.
Portman, 36, was seen walking his dog Roxy, without a lead near a main road in Lakeside in Redditch on July 13 of this year.
Rafe Turner, prosecuting, said Portman was seen by five witnesses in a visibly drunk state before he fell into an alleyway, with his dog, a Staffordshire Bull terrier, who had been in his care for some years, following him.
He then punched the dog with enough force that it moved some distance away from him, cowering with its tail between its legs.
Witnesses, upset by what they saw, also reported the dog seemed out of control and vulnerable.
Portman, who represented himself in court, said he could not remember doing anything to the dog due to being drunk, but had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
Chairman, Mrs Annie Heyward said: “The court takes an especially dim view of violence towards animals.
“It was obviously very upsetting to see, particularly as one of the witnesses said she felt affected days after the event.
“We are most concerned about the animal’s wellbeing in this instance.”
In addition to the fine and disqualification from keeping animals, Portman must complete a 12 month community order.
Roxy is now in the care of the RSPCA and is hoped to be rehomed.
The court ruled that Mr Portman be allowed to keep his pet snakes – a milk snake and Royal python, which he has kept for almost five years and reared from babies.
