A DOG owner caught on CCTV repeatedly punching and kicking his pet has been ordered to do 150 hours community service and has been banned from owning a dog for five years.

The attack was described as one of the worst animal cruelty cases ever witnessed in Weymouth.

Christopher James Herbert, 28, admitted inflicting pain and suffering on his Staffordshire bull terrier named Max after the dog apparently bit him, the court heard.

Herbert, of Lower Putton Lane, Chickerell, was captured on camera in Weymouth town centre in the early hours of September 27 attacking his dog over a 20-minute period.

The unemployed bricklayer was sentenced to a 12-month community order where he will complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from owning or keeping a dog for five years and the ownership of the dog was seized by the RSPCA.

Prosecutor Matthew Knight said: “The defendant was spotted punching, kicking and possibly headbutting the dog.

“From the footage the best conclusion is that the dog could be conditioned to such treatment.

“A veterinary report said these actions would have brought pain, fear and distress to the dog.

“When interviewed the defendant said he was punishing the dog for biting him and he did not think he was doing anything wrong.

“Punching and kicking a dog in the head is not a suitable way to train or chastise a dog.”

Simon Brimacombe, in mitigation, said: “Mr Herbert is appalled by his behaviour and it is something he bitterly regrets.

“He wants to make it quite clear that he knows he overstepped the mark in terms of his chastising method.

“There had been an incident shortly beforehand where Mr Herbert assisted in a situation where a male was assaulting a female.

“He said that Max became agitated and bit him twice in the stomach.

“My client had never known Max to bite anyone and was always proud of his temperament. He felt he had done well in training him.

“He then misjudged the manner in which he should treat his dog and he deeply regrets what he did.

“Mr Herbert has had Max since he was a puppy and he refers to himself as being his daddy.

“He says he has a strong bond with Max and that he has suffered a significant loss in now having lost him.”

Chairman of the magistrates, John Young, said while sentencing: “The images on the CCTV say it all.

“This was a brutal attack and it demonstrates a degree of cruelty that is shocking.”

Herbert was also ordered to pay a total of £300 costs.

Weymouth and Portland dog warden Ian Lewis said: “It was one of the worst cases of cruelty I have ever seen. It was 20 minutes of sustained unadulterated violence on a helpless animal.”

The case was brought by RSPCA inspector Ken Snook, who was in court to oversee proceedings and said the organisation would prosecute anyone suspected of cruelty.