Mansfield man’s 'sustained and vicious attack' on terrified dog

The black and white Staffordshire bull terrier called Bandit ran out of a block of flats on Pinxton Court and hid under bushes, cowering and shaking, while Babatundi Edwards shouted for him to come back, said prosecutor Anne-Marie Pierrepont.

A neighbour, who had been concerned about the dog's welfare for some time, heard yelps and videoed what happened next on the afternoon of November 26, 2019.

In a statement, an expert veterinarian described how the dog slunk back, low to the ground and appeared to be terrified before Edwards grabbed Bandit, lifted him above his head and threw him ‘forcefully’ to the ground where he landed on his head and back.

Edwards jumped on the dog, punched and kicked him ‘multiple times’ and attempted to strangle him, before returning to his flat.

The vet said the impact of being hurled to the floor could have broken the dog's neck – and kicking him could have been fatal.

"This gentleman is clearly not fit to be responsible for any animal of any sort," she said. "It was a prolonged course of violent behaviour."

When interviewed by police, Edwards said: "Bandit didn't know how to be a dog."

"He said its training wasn't doing so well," said Ms Pierrepont. "On the day in question he didn't know what happened and couldn't remember."

Abbie Edwards, mitigating, said he had no previous convictions and there had been no offences since. His other dog was taken from him, she told the court.

"There is simply no justification for this offence and Mr Edwards recognises that. He deeply regrets his actions."

She said he owned his own dog for many years with no issues, but a friend asked him to look after Bandit and then failed to reclaim him.

Edwards, 29, of Pinxton Court, Mansfield, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, on February 16.

On Thursday, magistrates handed him an 18 week sentence, suspended for two years, with 10 rehabilitation days to tackle his anger management issues.

He was disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years and was ordered to pay a £120 surcharge and costs of £85.

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