Teenage boy kicked and punched Staffordshire bull terrier to death in St Ives

Judge condemns 'highest level of animal cruelty'

Staffordshire bull terrier suffered a fractured skull when he was attacked.

A 14-year-old boy has been found guilty of punching and kicking a dog to death.

The Staffordshire bull terrier, named Teddy, suffered a fractured skull and multiple blunt-force injuries to his head, neck and torso after the teenager “completely lost his temper”.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attacked the terrier in St Ives, Cornwall, in October last year after it pinned down his own dog.

He was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal at Truro Magistrates’ Court.

The teenager’s father, who also cannot be named, was cleared of the same charge.

Describing the teenager as “arrogant”, District Judge Diana Baker said he would go ”straight down those steps to custody” if he were an adult.

“This is at the highest level of animal cruelty,” she said. "It is a persistent attack on a dog, causing the ultimate injury, death, by kicking and punching.”

Teddy’s owner Jacqueline Stevens, 72, told the Cornwall Live website that her dog was “gentle”.

She said: ”I could speak all day about Ted. He was a big bear. He loved being dressed by my grandchildren.”

The teenager will be sentenced on 22 August.