Dog walker slammed spaniel he was looking after against the wall in fit of rage
A man has admitted to grabbing a spaniel by the scruff of the neck and slamming him on a wall twice.
Luke Cobb, 38, could be jailed for up to a year, after admitting to carrying out the attack on Stan the spaniel during a fit of rage on November 13 last year.
He was first reported to police after a video of the act was posted on social media.
A neighbour’s doorbell footage captured the moment Cobb, who owns six other dogs, carried out the attack.
He wrote an apology post online which said: ‘I have made a terrible mistake,’ but claimed he attacked Stan because he was bitten by him.
But other dog owners have now come forward saying they noticed changes in their pets behaviour after leaving them with Cobb.
Magistrates in Brighton heard how Cobb, who is a professional dog walker, breached the standards of trust and that his actions were sadistic.
The full video was played in court and a member of the public in the gallery could be heard saying: ‘Oh my God, that poor dog.’
Prosecutor Megan Attree said: ‘There were a number of reports from concerned members of the public about a video going round on social media.
‘The dog appeared to be scared and is seen dangling as Mr Cobb walks towards a wall and repeatedly smashes the dogs head against the wall for apparently no reason. The dog struggles as he walks off.’
A report from a vet commissioned by the RSPCA found the incident would have caused pain, fear and unnecessary suffering to Stan.
Ms Attree added: ‘The dog would have been afraid and suffering during the incident.
‘People left their dogs with him believing they were paying for a service where their dogs would be cared for.’
The court also heard how Stan winced when his collar was taken off the following day.
Defence lawyer Mark Charnley said Cobb admitted the offence before he was arrested.
He said the company Cobb used to run has now folded and described the act against Stan as a ‘moment of madness’.
Cobb will be sentenced on May 31 this year.
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