A DOG called Molly was hit on the head with a hammer, strangled with a washing line and dumped in the River Tyne by her owner.

The decomposing body of the six-year-old German Shepherd, which had a piece of cord around her neck, was found washed up beside the River Tyne on December 6.

Her microchip led the RSPCA to a breed rescue group who had rehomed her in March 2017 and to her owner Melvyn Hall of Ashfield Mews, Wallsend.

Hall initially said the pet had died of a ruptured aneurysm and was seen by a vet but could not recall who.

RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor said: “However, in the interview that followed he said he had gone to the shop and come home to find her dead before going on to admit hitting Molly on the head with a hammer, strangling her with the washing line that was around her neck when her body was found and dumping her in the River Tyne.

“He said he did it because she was following him around and getting on his nerves and he lashed out.”

Appearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Hall admitted two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to Molly under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

However, the court was told he was trying to hit a mouse with the hammer and hit Molly accidentally, cradling her in his arms until she died, though he admitted not providing her with veterinary treatment.

A post-mortem revealed Molly had several skull fractures and evidence of haemorrhaging but it was unlikely those injuries caused immediate death. The presence of the washing line indicated the owner was uncertain of the state of Molly's consciousness after she was hit, the court heard.

Inspector Proctor said: “The vet said that the attack on Molly from the person who cared for her would have caused immediate distress, which would have quickly passed into suffering when she received the blow from the hammer.

"The pain of a fracturing skull would be intense but the period of suffering wasn’t possible to establish."

In mitigation the court heard that Hall, 71, was of previous good character, worked in the NHS for 46 years and as a magistrate for five years.

He was sentenced to 18weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, a lifetime disqualification on all animals except goldfish and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.