Man banned from having pets for five years after being caught on CCTV stamping on his dog in a lift

A man who was caught on CCTV kicking, stamping and punching his pet dog has been banned from owning animals for five years.

CCTV cameras in St. Cuthbert’s Court, Gateshead, captured Cameron Brunning in a lift carrying out violent attacks on his dog, named Biscuit, who was left in a state of terror. In the film, he was seen aiming kicks and punches at the animal as well as holding her by the throat up against a mirror in the lift and then dropping her.

Now Brunning, 22, of St. Cuthbert’s Court, Gateshead, has pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the bulldog by inflicting physical and mental abuse as well as an offence of failing to meet the needs of the dog.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order under at Gateshead Magistrates’ Court on July 17, which he is required to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity (RAR) days. He has also been banned from keeping animals for five years.

RSPCA Inspector Keogh-Laws said in a statement presented to the court that she attended at the flats where the concierge showed the video footage which captured multiple attacks on the dog stretching over a period of nearly a month between September and October 2023.

“The defendant can be seen kicking the dog throughout the videos, stamping on her head and legs with force and punching her in her face,” said the inspector.

“He is seen picking her up and slamming her to the ground where she lands on her back. In one clip he picks the dog up and holds her up against the mirror of the lift by her throat. He holds her around three feet off the ground for around 10 seconds and then drops her to the floor.

“His body language is aggressive and he is right in the dog’s face pointing. In another clip he pins the dog in the corner of the lift. The dog looks terrified and she cowers and tries to move away to the furthest corner of the lift.

“The dog didn’t appear to be doing anything leading up to or during the beatings which were completely unprovoked.”

The RSPCA inspector, accompanied by two police officers, attended at Brunning’s flat on October 11, 2023 and identified the defendant from the CCTV. The bulldog who was in the sitting room was seized and taken into RSPCA care.