Thug, 20, hurled pet dog into wall
ATHUG from West Lancashire launched his terrified Staffordshire Bull Terrier into a wall, then brutally attacked his sister.
Ryan Thomas Edwards, of Birleywood in Skelmersdale, carried out the cowardly attack at the family’s former home on November 6 last year.
Sefton Magistrates Court heard how the outof-control 20-year-old picked up the pet dog, called Marley, by the collar after she refused to go over to him when he called her.
He snapped, grabbed the frightened animal by the head and then threw her against a wall four feet away.
Edwards had denied causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
But he changed his plea to guilty as his trial which was due to begin last Thursday (October 27).
The court heard how Zoe Edwards, the defendant’s sister, was in her bedroom with Marley at the family’s former home in Southport on November 6 last year.
Bernice Campbell, prosecuting, said: “The defendant came into the bedroom and called the dog over.
“It very reluctantly came towards him, but was shaking and clearly scared.”
Ms Campbell said the defendant went outside with Marley and returned to the bedroom a short time later.
She told the court: “Marley went back to sit by Zoe. The defendant called her back over but the dog refused to go.
“He then grabbed her collar, dragged her towards him and grabbed her by the head, and threw her four feet into a wall. The dog was stunned and froze.”
Zoe confronted her brother, who threatened to hit her as well.
Ms Campbell said: “The defendant launched himself towards Zoe and punched her to the face, grabbed her by the hair and punched her to the ribs.
“Zoe’s mum came to help and the defendant released his grip, before grabbing her by the throat.”
The attack left Zoe with hair missing and a sore head.
The court heard Edwards had already been convicted of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm for the attack on his sister, and had been sentenced to six months in prison last month.
Nick Archer, defending Edwards, told the court the family were due to move out of the house the following day, but no provisions had been made for where his client was to live.
He said: “There had been several arguments throughout the day culminating with this incident between him and his sister.
“This was clearly an impulsive act causing little or no injury to the dog, unpleasant although the incident must have been.”
Edwards was sentenced to 28 days in prison to run concurrently with his existing jail term.