Man caught on camera kicking puppy in the head during 'barbaric' attack
A man who stamped on his eight-month-old puppy’s head in a “barbaric” attack has been jailed, and banned from keeping animals for life.
Shahzeeb Shazad Khan, 25, was caught on CCTV kicking his dog in the head.
Khan can be seen attacking the puppy during the attack which took place in a lift on 10 December last year.
Police and the RSPCA were alerted to the harrowing footage after Khan violently beat Rico, a Presa Canario breed, at a block of flats in Oldbury, West Midlands.
Officers seized Rico from Khan's ownership and he was found to be uninjured after being checked over by vets.
Animal experts viewed the CCTV footage and concluded that the attack was "aggressive" and that Khan had demonstrated a "barbaric use of force".
Khan, of Oldbury, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal when he appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
He was jailed for eight weeks, ordered to pay a £123 victim surcharge, and disqualified from ever owning animals again.
RSPCA Inspector Claire Davey, who led the investigation, said: “In the footage, a large brindle-coloured dog enters the lift followed closely behind by Mr Khan.
"The dog looks nervous and cowers in the corner of the lift before he launches a violent attack on him, kicking and stamping on his head twice.
“There’s a puddle of urine on the floor of the lift that wasn’t there before the attack. Poor Rico was so frightened that he wet himself.
“The man then attaches a lead to Rico’s harness and yanks at him to move him to the other side of the lift.
"He scurries over to the doors and continues to cower on the ground. As the doors open, the dog scuttles out nervously before they disappear from the shot.”
The court also removed Rico from Khan's ownership meaning the RSPCA can now seek him a new home in time for Christmas.
Inspector Davey added: “After spending a year in our care, Rico can now find a wonderful new home.
"All of the staff who have been taking care of him are so thrilled that this Christmas is looking so much brighter for this lovely lad.”
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