A man who was caught on video punching his dog has told a sheriff “it was just a stupid mistake” after pleading guilty to the offence.
Footage of Brodie Burns attacking his Staffordshire bull terrier in Peterhead went viral and he was tracked down by police.
His partner Lesley-Ann Stewart has now been cleared of any part in the offence after her not guilty pleas were accepted at Peterhead Sheriff Court.
Burns, 25, admitted repeatedly kicking and punching the pet in the town’s Berryden Road last year.
The couple were both charged the video was widely shared on social media platforms.
Video went viral
The video, which captured part of the incident on April 24 last year, gathered thousands of views and was shared more than 100 times.
They were due to stand trial last December but that trial was adjourned and today the matters were resolved after their amended pleas were accepted.
The charges against Miss Stewart, 37, were dropped and Burns’ plea of not guilty to the dangerous dog offence was accepted.
He admitted repeatedly kicking and punching his Staffordshire bull terrier cross-type dog and causing it unnecessary suffering.
‘It was just a stupid mistake’
After pleading guilty, he told Sheriff Christine McCrossan: “I love my dog. I love it … it was just a stupid mistake.”
She deferred sentence to allow for background reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment to be prepared.
She will hear the facts next month and will also consider reports from Aberdeenshire Council’s dog warden and the dog’s vet.
Burns, of Willowbank Road, Peterhead, also admitted a charge of assault to injury and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner during the Berryden Road incident.
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