A 24-year-old man from Sheffield has been handed a suspended prison sentence and a lifetime ban on keeping animals after he was caught on CCTV kicking and slapping his dog.
Mason Sestanovich, of Stanwell Walk, Wincobank, pleaded guilty to causing blunt force trauma, physical violence and intimidatory behaviour to his dog Chicago, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The attack took place in the hallway of a block of flats at Hyde Park Terrace on October 4, 2023.
The RSPCA launched an investigation after receiving footage from the housing manager. An officer visited the flat and found Chicago being kept in unsuitable conditions. A vet examined the dog and found no evidence of historic injuries, but blood tests indicated stress, possibly from the beating.
At Sheffield Magistrates' Court, Sestanovich was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. He was also ordered to pay £400 in costs and a £154 surcharge.
Chicago was later typed as an XL Bully and, due to government legislation, had to be put to sleep. The RSPCA said the dog's body language showed extreme fear during the attack, and the violence caused pain.
