A thug was jailed after footage of him beating a puppy went viral. Tyler Steele, 28, swore at the XL Bully in a video captured on a doorbell camera.
The 12-week-old puppy, called Bo, yelped in pain during the incident in Stoke-on-Trent. A court heard Steele repeatedly punched the dog in the head before throwing it across the road on Proudlock Avenue, in the Hanley area of the city, on July 7 last year.
He could be heard saying: "I do not want it no more. He can f**k off" after attacking the dog when it disobeyed him. Steele had previously grabbed a French Bulldog and thrown it into the air from a parked car in a separate incident on May 2 last year.
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Steele, of Berryhill, Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He was jailed for 18 weeks and banned from keeping animals for five years at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Monday, June 10.
After being shamed on social media, Steele later went back to the property where the footage was filmed and declared he "didn't give a f***k about the video". He said: "I've told everyone it was me. I don't give two flying f***s. I'll treat my dog how I want to treat it."
A couple who had reportedly sold Steele the puppy for £1,000 later demanded him back after seeing the horrific video on social media. Sgt Chris Gifford, of Staffordshire Police's Stoke North local policing team, said: "I’m pleased with the sentence given to Steele and that he has been disqualified from keeping animals for five years.
"This case sends a clear message that we will take action against animal cruelty." A spokesperson for the RSPCA added: "This was a very upsetting case and we were glad to be of assistance to Staffordshire Police - strengthening our partnership working. We are grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering as we strive to make the world a better place for every kind."
