Preston man allowed to keep his ‘difficult to control’ dog despite admitting to hitting it over the head with a metal bar

A Preston man who beat his dog over the head with a metal bar escaped being banned from keeping pets after a court acknowledged the animal was “difficult to control”. Declan Connor, of Neptune Court, Preston, admitted attacking the animal with the weapon and causing unnecessary suffering in January this year when he appeared before Preston Magistrates’ Court on March 14.

Preston Magistrates Court was told the 21-year-old had no similar previous incidents and took the view a disqualification order was not necessary, meaning Connor will be allowed to keep the dog. However, he was ordered to keep Bruno under proper control and take the dog for an annual veterinary check up before June 14.

Earlier in the hearing, magistrates heard Connor had hit Bruno causing unnecessary suffering and that he know or ought to have known his actions would have that effect or be likely to do so. The court also noted that Bruno was “difficult to control” during the court hearing. JPs also took into account Connor’s guilty plea when imposing their sentence, which also included a 12 month community order, £114 surcharge and £85 court costs.

Why do people appear at Magistrates Court instead of Crown Court?

The vast majority of offences are dealt with at magistrates court, with only the most serious offences, such murder and rape, being heard at Crown Court in front of a judge. Magistrates and district judges deal most others, including minor offences such as motoring offences, minor criminal damage and common assault not causing significant injury.

They will also deal with more serious offences such a burglary and drug offences but will then pass the case to a higher court should they feel they do not have sufficient sentencing powers. Magistrates will also pass the serious – or indictable – offences such as murder, rape, other serious sexual offences, kidnapping and serious fraud, to the Crown Court, where judges have much greater sentencing powers and cases are heard before a jury.