Court told puppy was punched in the head

A 22-year-old man repeatedly punched a terrified 12-week-old puppy in the head to 'teach the dog a lesson', a court heard today.

Witnesses told Telford Magistrates Court they saw Matthew Blagborough repeatedly punch the distressed Staffordshire Bull Terrier in Oakengates, leaving its nose and mouth bleeding. Blagborough, of Mynachby Road in Cardiff, denies causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, called Molly.

He also denies a further animal welfare charge.

Mr Roger Price, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the dog suffered soft tissue injuries. The right side of its face was bruised and her eyes were bloodshot.

Mr Price said: "The defendant admitted in interview he clipped the dog's nose a few times but he denied punching the dog. The reason he gave was to teach the dog a lesson."

Two eyewitnesses told the court they saw the defendant hit the dog near the Coalport Tavern in Oakengates on January 30 this year.

Witness Jack Watton said he was travelling in a car with three female friends when they saw Blagborough attack the dog.

Mr Watton said: "There was a bloke walking along the footpath and he had the small animal in his left hand. He held the dog by the scruff of the neck and he punched it with his right.

"It wasn't tapped on the nose, he was laying into her with a closed fist."

The court heard the four friends got out of the car and told Blagborough to stop hitting the dog, which he had bought six weeks earlier as a gift.

One of the females in the car offered to buy the dog for £10 but Blagborough said it belonged to his partner who he was visiting for the weekend, the court heard.

Another witness, Jade Varney, said the dog broke loose and the friends chased Blagborough. Miss Varney said Blagborough eventually caught the dog and tried to get into a taxi but the driver would not let him inside.

Magistrates were told Miss Varney then called the police.

She said: "The dog's mouth was bleeding, it's nose was bleeding. It looked really distressed. It was squealing like it was in pain and it looked like its spine was sticking out of its back. It was horrible."

Miss Varney said she saw Blagborough hit the dog about five times.

The trial continues.