A dog walker exposed by MailOnline after slamming a Cockapoo into a wall has been spared jail.
Luke Cobb, 38, smashed the dog into a wall in a fit of rage.
Magistrates in Brighton described the incident as a sadistic attack on a defenseless animal.
Despite his pleas in court, Cobb was told he will have to find a home for his own two pets after being banned from owning dogs for a year.
Cobb admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
A dog walker exposed by MailOnline after slamming a Cockapoo into a wall has been spared jail. In the photo: footage from the Ring in which the dog is grabbed by the neck
In the shocking footage, Mr Cobb was heard shouting the spaniel’s name – Sam – then yanking on his collar and lifting him half a meter off the ground, causing him to struggle.
Prosecutor Megan Attree said police received reports on November 13 last year after video of the attack on three-and-a-half-year-old Cockapoo Stanley went viral
Prosecutor Megan Attree said police received reports on November 13 last year after video of the attack on three-and-a-half-year-old Cockapoo Stanley went viral.
“You see the dog looking scared and running away from him.
“He grabs him by the neck and hits his head against the wall,” Ms Attree said.
Animal expert Jeremy Stattersfield provided a report for the RSPCA.
“It would not only have caused injury to the dog, but also fear of injury,” he said.
Cobb claimed he slammed the dog into the wall after it tried to bite him.
Ms Attree said Cobb’s story differed substantially from what was shown on the video.
“There’s no bite,” she said.
“The Crown alleges it was a sadistic attack on a defenseless animal that did not get out of control.
‘There was no reason for it.
Luke Cobb, 38, smashed the dog into a wall in a fit of rage. Magistrates in Brighton described the incident as a sadistic attack on a defenseless animal.
Cobb and his partner run a successful dog sitting and walking business from their home called Harvey’s Walks. Pictured: Outside Luke Cobb’s house
‘There was considerable force. Hitting the head against the wall twice.’
Dog owners have the right to expect dog walkers to care for their pets as if they were your own, Ms Attree said.
Michael Gibbs, Stan’s owner, said: ‘Stans has never shown any signs of aggression and has never tried to bite anyone.
‘I was disgusted and shocked by what I saw.
‘He picks him up from behind by the collar and scruff and then hits his head forcefully against the wall.
“When we took his collar off him later, he flinched,” Mr Gibbs said.
Cobb, who now works as a milkman after his dog walking business was destroyed by the case against him, fully admitted his wrongdoing and told the court: ‘I accept it was a breach of trust.
‘It was a terrible mistake and I just want to make up for what I did.
‘I currently have two dogs.
‘I completely understand the idea behind a disqualification.
‘I love my dogs and I would like to ask that I continue to own them.
“They are my whole heart, they are my babies.”
Cobb, who now works as a milkman after his dog walking business was destroyed by the case against him, fully admitted his wrongdoing and told the court: ‘I accept it was a breach of trust’
A police car is pictured outside Luke Cobb’s home in Brighton. He received a community order of twelve months with ten RAR days and 200 hours of unpaid work
Chairman Naomi Phillipson told Cobb: “You were in a position of trust and responsible for the dogs in your care.
‘It was a deliberate attempt to cause that dog suffering.
‘This abuse took place in a commercial context as a professional dog walker.’
The magistrates decided that the offense was aggravated by his position as a professional dog walker and the distress caused to Stan’s owner.
“We heard that the dog was said to have been in pain and suffering,” Miss Phillipson said.
Cobb was banned from owning or keeping dogs for a year.
“We are not going to send you to prison, but we are going to impose a 12 month community order with ten RAR days and two hundred hours of unpaid work,” Miss Phillipson said.
He will also pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
‘We consider this to be a serious offense and we are issuing a 12-month dog disqualification order, with a two-week suspension, so that you can find homes for the two dogs in your care.
“Take this time to think about what happened,” Miss Phillipson said.
Cobb had attributed the incident to a moment of madness.
He was reported to the police after the video of the incident went viral.
A neighbor’s doorbell camera caught Cobb grabbing Stan.
Cobb tried to claim he was bitten by Stan in an apology post online, before saying: “I made a terrible mistake.”
RSPCA inspectors described the incident as dangerous and putting the dog at risk of harm.
A vet’s report commissioned by the RSPCA said the incident is said to have caused Stan pain, distress and unnecessary suffering.
