A FATHER-OF-THREE who repeatedly stamped on a dog's head has been ordered to pay £1,500 court costs and banned from owning animals for five years.

Daniel Peel, 29, of Darlington, was also sentenced to a 12 month community order including 80 hours unpaid work by magistrates, who branded his cruelty “outrageous.”

CCTV footage captured Peel kicking the female Pit Bull Terrier - which belonged to his then partner - near The Navy Club on the town's North Road, before he rounded the corner and stamped repeatedly on her head.

Darlington Magistrates' Court heard Peel had been subjected to a barrage of hate mail and threats on social media since the attack on May 17 which caused the break-down of a long-term relationship.

“Cruelty to animals will never be tolerated by the court," said chairman of the bench, Nick Edger. "We have seen just one aspect of what you did on that day and witnesses have come forward to say you did more.

“Outrageous. It’s outrageous.”

A vet assessed the dog, called Sacha, and confirmed severe bruising on such muscular breeds is not always visible but she had experienced a lot of suffering.

Peel, of Appleby Close, Darlington, was identified by his distinctive tribal tattoos and he later admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, which was owned by his former partner.

It was collected by the RSPCA two days after his arrest.

Gwen Burnett, mitigating, said: “He very much regrets being angry and wishes to apologise to the court.

“He feels he has had quite a punishment already – it’s got to the point where he can’t walk down the street without people recognising him.

“It’s been made very clear to him that his behaviour was unacceptable.”

A witness, standing at a bus stop opposite, told a previous hearing: "He brought his left knee up high and stamped down five or six times on the dog's head. He put all his force into it, he did it with venom and anger.

"When he made contact with the dog I heard a crunching sound and a thud. It made me feel sick. The dog hadn’t defended itself.”

RSPCA officer, Clare Wilson, said: “It’s really down to the public that we managed to get the court to take this so seriously because of the response we had."