Prestwick man jailed for nine months after abuse left dog 'trembling in fear'
Daniel Murphy, 43, was sentenced at Ayr Sheriff Court
A 43 year old man has been jailed for nine months and banned from owning animals for life, after being accused of attacking his dog with an iron, a bottle, and his fists.
Daniel Murphy was sentenced at Ayr Sheriff Court, pleading guilty to a charge under the animal health and welfare legislation.
Video footage showed his one year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier being picked up by his legs and tail and throwing and dragging him across the room.
In another attack, the dog was left trembling after suffering 70 blows in three hours.
On two occasions, Murphy was seen pouring liquid over the dog’s head and face.
"Horrific and cruel"
Procurator Fiscal for North Strathclyde Anne Marie Hicks said: “Daniel Murphy carried out attacks on his dog which were horrific and cruel.
“This poor animal endured a shocking ordeal and was subjected to terrible mental and physical abuse.
“The images on video were extremely distressing, but Daniel Murphy has now been brought to account for his crimes.
“We take such criminality seriously and the public can be assured that we will prosecute such matters where there is a sufficiency of evidence to do so.”
"Extremely distressing"
In November 2024, a housing support officer with South Ayrshire Council was alerted to multiple videos of the abuse, after the SSPCA were anonymously provided footage.
The SSPCA went on to review 26 videos, before they, along with two police officers, seized the dog from the premises of a man who said he was looking after it while Murphy was in London.
A vet who examined the dog said he had swelling on the side of his skull, pain in his shoulder and left thigh, and lameness on his left hind leg.
The dog was successfully rehomed within a week of being seized.
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