Man who tortured American bully puppy to death jailed

The 11-week-old puppy, named Rocko, was found with cigarette burns and scratches, the RSPCA says

A man who tortured a puppy to death has been given the longest prison sentence ever handed down under the Animal Welfare Act, the RSPCA has said.

Dudley Payne, 29, of Penwortham, Lancashire, was convicted of causing "horrific injuries" to the 11-week-old American bully breed.

The dog, named Rocko, had a severe head trauma, a ruptured liver, a partial hip fracture and a prolapsed eyeball.

Payne was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.

He was also banned from keeping animals for 15 years.

'Shocking violence'

The puppy, who Payne had only owned for six days, also had cigarette burns on its groin and abrasions consistent with being scratched by fingernails, the animal welfare charity said.

RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley said it was the most "shocking and violent act of deliberate cruelty" towards an animal she had ever investigated in her eight-year career.

Jurors heard how the RSPCA had been contacted by a vet after Rocko was taken to them on 2 February 2022, but was dead on arrival.

In a statement read in court at the trial, Inspector Dingley said: "The vet received the post-mortem results back and immediately contacted the RSPCA.

"He told me on the phone it was the worst post-mortem examination report he had ever read."

A vet who also gave evidence in court said Rocko's injuries suggested "intentional harm".

Payne had claimed the injuries had been sustained after he had performed CPR when the dog developed breathing difficulties, but a jury at Preston Crown Court found him guilty of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 after a four-day trial.

He was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Speaking after sentencing at Lancaster Crown Court, Ms Dingley said: "I will never be able to comprehend what happened to Rocko and why such a young animal was treated in such a cruel way.

"This investigation will stay with me forever, but I'm pleased that we were able to get some justice for this little puppy, and I think the long custodial sentence reflects the gravity of this case."