Dog attack ‘disgrace’

A MAN who hit a dog with a hammer has been given a second chance to complete the community service he was ordered to do.

Jackson Hearne, 22, faced the Charters Towers Magistrates Court last week on a charge of contravening a community service order after failing to complete 44 of the 90 hours he was sentenced to in February last year.

Hearne was sentenced to 90 hours’ community service after he was convicted on a charge of cruelty to an animal and the wilful damage of a glass sliding door, a glass window, car window and front gate latch arising from an incident on October 20, 2018.

The court heard from a Department of Community Safety officer that Hearne completed 46 hours and that despite multiple efforts to contact him he failed to complete the rest in the allocated time.

The officer said there were some issues with alcohol and intervention efforts were made in November but Hearne had rejected them.

The court was told Hearne had been living at the property where the attack on the dog took place, as well as the wilful damage of the items.

Magistrate Ross Mack questioned Hearne over his lack of effort in completing the hours and why he hit a dog with a hammer.

“You’re in more trouble than Flash Gordon,” Mr Mack said.

“He’s only done 40 hours since he was sentenced in February last year. And then we get all this codswallop about Covid and sickness and that’s really just a euphemism for laziness.”

Mr Mack said he had no choice but to resentence Hearne on the original charges of animal cruelty and wilful damage as the period for completing the community service had expired.

“I cannot stand this cruelty to a dog,” he said.

“Why would you hit a dog with a hammer?

“It’s a disgrace.”

Mr Mack said that he would take into account the number of hours Hearne had already completed when resentencing him on the original charges.

Hearne, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and sentenced to 60 hours of community service, to be completed within six months.

Mr Mack warned Hearne that if he did not finish the hours in that time then he would be going to prison.

“Jail and you are not going to mix well,” Mr Mack told Hearne.