A Fraserburgh man has been jailed after he carried out brutal acts of “wanton cruelty” on two dogs.
Allan Gillies was caught red-handed on CCTV abusing French Bulldog Reg and Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed Rex, causing “extreme fear, pain and mental suffering” to both animals.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard how the 41-year-old – who has a previous animal welfare conviction from 2017 – was seen on the video grabbing Rex by the ears and lifting him off the ground.
Another shocking incident was recounted in which officers from the SSPCA saw Gillies suspending Reg by his lead, before swinging him around in the air by his neck where he struck an exterior wall.
He also hit both dogs with items he found in his garden, including a table leg.
As Sheriff William Summers sentenced Gillies to six months in prison, the animal abuser exclaimed: “I didn’t think I’d get sent to jail for this!”
Accused ‘swung dog around’ by neck
Fiscal depute Jane Spark told the court that an SSPCA inspector viewed the CCTV footage on February 21 last year.
“The accused was seen approaching the white French Bulldog, Reg, while screaming at him and picked it up by the lead in an unacceptable manner,” Ms Spark said.
“He then swung the dog around in the air with force and caused it to strike off the exterior wall of the flat.
“It was noted that the accused was extremely angry at this time and he was seen picking up a table leg from a coffee table in his garden and throwing it, sticking the dog on the back.”
During a separate incident, Gillies was again seen on CCTV screaming at his black Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross Rex.
He grabbed the dog by the face before lifting it off the ground by its ears.
Gillies then dropped Rex and picked up a piece of rubber, which he struck him with before dragging the dog along the ground and back into his flat.
He pleaded guilty to two charges of causing animals unnecessary suffering.
‘It is clear that you have learned nothing’
Defence agent Neil McRobert told the court that a criminal justice social work report into his client appeared to show that he “doesn’t seem to fully accept what happened”.
“That’s a bit of an understatement – he doesn’t accept any responsibility,” Sheriff Summers replied.
Mr McRobert stated: “It appears that he was having some kind of metal breakdown at the time.
“But that does not particularly excuse the conduct in these charges.”
Sentencing Gillies, Sheriff Summers told him: “You took part in acts of wanton cruelty towards these animals who were in your care.
“It is clear you accept no responsibility for your actions and it is clear that you have learned nothing from that.
“Given the degree of cruelty, the fact that it involved two animals and your analogous previous conviction I have no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.”
Sheriff Summers sentenced Gillies, of Scalloway Park, Fraserburgh, to six months in prison and disqualified him from owning dogs for 10 years.
He also put a deprivation order in place, meaning the dogs will be removed from Gillies’ ownership.
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