A MAN who picked up his partner's dog by the throat and threw it to the ground has been sentenced.
Thomas Rastin, of Main Road in Ffynnongroyw, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The 33-year-old had admitted offences of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and criminal damage at a previous hearing.
Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court that at around 6am on September 3 last year, Rastin had turned up outside the home of his partner in Bagillt and was revving his car.
The complainant called police as Rastin then got out of the car and was screaming and shouting.
When officers arrived and Rastin was located, it became clear he'd damaged a double glazed window.
And his behaviour towards his partner's dog had been captured on video.
He had picked the dog up by the throat before throwing it to the floor.
A probation officer told the court: "He accepted full responsibility for the offences and didn't try to minimise his actions.
"He accepts he had consumed a small amount of alcohol and says on the day he acted out of character.
"He regrets his behaviour and acted in a way where he was trying to get a reaction."
Rastin was said by the probation officer to be "devastated" that he had hurt an animal.
Ms Yates, defending, made limited submissions on behalf of the defendant.
She said: "This was a brief incident.
"It was unpleasant and not the defendant's finest hour at all."
Ms Yates reasoned it was not necessary to ban her client from keeping dogs.
District Judge Gwyn Jones told Rastin: "It is clear that you can be seen lifting the dog in a way which careful, prudent owners would not do.
"You then used a degree of aggression putting back on the ground again."
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The Judge handed down a 12 month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity and a 120 day alcohol abstinence monitoring order.
Rastin must pay costs of £85 and compensation of £233.
He was banned from keeping, owning or participating in the keeping of a dog for the next five years.
The Judge told the defendant he cannot apply to review the banning order until at least two years have passed.
"It's a proportionate response to the risk you pose to dogs," he concluded.
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