Drunk killed dog in washing machine

Drunken dog owner Andrew Glazzard killed his pet by putting it into a washing machine "to teach it a lesson" after it made a mess, a court heard.

The dog Maisie had survived an earlier ordeal in the machine but Glazzard put her back in when he noticed her tail was still wagging. The dog died when Glazzard fell asleep before switching off the machine. He then put the animal's body in a bag and threw it into the River Stour, the court heard.

Glazzard, aged 41, of Pine Court, Cemetery Road, Lye, Stourbridge, was warned he could face jail when he appeared before Halesowen magistrates yesterday. He indicated a guilty plea to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal through his solicitor.

The 41-year-old also admitted a separate charge of possessing cannabis resin.

Magistrates adjourned the case until April 9 for a pre-sentence report and said while a high community punishment was under consideration, custody was not being ruled out.

Magistrates heard Glazzard had returned home drunk on November 27 last year to discover his dog, Maisie, had defecated inside the property.

Mr Mark Cooper, prosecuting, said: "To teach the dog a lesson he put it in the washing machine and turned it on for a few seconds.

"When he took the dog out he noticed her tail was still wagging so he put her inside the machine again. However this time he fell asleep.

"He awoke to find the dog dead inside the washing machine. He then put the body into a bag and threw it into the River Stour."

Mr Cooper said Glazzard admitted the cruelty offence to police after being arrested in Stourbridge on November 29 after he became abusive to community support officers.

He also admitted to possessing the cannabis resin in interview.

Mr Sunil Jagatia, defending, said his client, who has a drink problem, had been on the way to the police station to admit what he had done when he encountered the support officers.