Man hit dog with claw hammer

James McCauley, aged 48, of Wall Well, Halesowen, was jailed for 18 weeks after admitting the attack. He was also banned from owning, keeping or dealing with animals for five years. McCauley claimed he decided to kill Staffordshire bull terrier Spike, who was 13 years old and had numerous health problems, to end the dog's suffering.

Mr Mark Cooper, prosecuting, told the court alcoholic McCauley had returned home at around 2am on March 8 after drinking "eight or nine pints" of cider. The defendant found Spike, who had been fitting and incontinent for a few months as a result of liver damage, whimpering in his bed in the kitchen.

The court heard McCauley hit the dog twice over the head with a claw hammer but was not sure he was dead and carried him into the garden. There, he strangled him to death, Mr Cooper said.

McCauley then went back into the house and told disbelieving partner Dawn Braznell he had killed the family pet before ordering 16-year-old son Danny to dig the dog's grave.

Horrified Ms Braznell, who has kicked McCauley out, called the police and RSPCA who came to the house and exhumed Spike's body. A post-mortem confirmed Spike had not been killed by the hammer blows, the court heard.

Mr David Wilkins, defending, said: "Mr McCauley is not trying to absolve himself from the shame of what he did that night."

Mr Wilkins claimed his client "loved this dog, had a very strong attachment to this dog" which Ms Braznell had looked after since he was a puppy.

McCauley had decided to kill Spike because he wanted to end his suffering, Mr Wilkins said.

Bench chairwoman Mrs Judith Hesslewood sentenced McCauley to 18 weeks in prison and issued the animal ban.

RSPCA Inspector Jon Ratcliffe said after the hearing: "I'm pleased that the court has rightly seen the severity of the crime."