Thug who brutally beat, choked and strangled terrified Cockapoo escapes jail

CCTV captures dog owner punching, kicking and choking cockapoo

A thug has avoided jail after being caught on CCTV punching and choking two dogs in distressing footage.

Thomas Hardy, 32, was seen punching his Cockapoo five times before strangling her, compressing her chest between his legs and swinging her around by the neck. One clip showed him lifting the Cockapoo before kicking her and smashing the security camera that caught the harrowing footage.

The footage was taken in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, in County Durham on July 18 2023. He was also seen grabbing another dog by the neck on July 28 before violently putting him on a lead, dropping him to the floor, and yanking him off his front feet.

The RSPCA was given the footage by police who launched an investigation. Hardy, 32, admitted two charges of unnecessary suffering by inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence, and intimidatory behaviour. He was given a 12-week prison sentence for each offence — suspended for 24 months — when he was sentenced at Teesside Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 30.

Thomas Hardy avoided jail time (Image: RSPCA)

He was also banned from keeping animals for 12 years. Police, accompanied by an RSPCA inspector, visited the flat on August 2 last year and entry was forced due to concerns after there was no reply.

In written evidence to the court, the RSPCA inspector said: "Inside the property was a light brown Cockapoo type dog, she was very nervous and cowering down. The flat the dog was living in was very unkempt and smelt of excrement and had faeces littered around. The dog was seized by the police and placed into the care of the RSPCA and I put her in my vehicle."

The other dog, who didn't belong to Hardy, was not seen at the flat and the animal's whereabouts are unknown.

In written evidence to the court the vet who examined the female Cockapoo and viewed the CCTV footage, said: "The individual in the videos is clearly seen to hit, choke, kick and throw the tan cockapoo. There is no reason to treat any animal in this way. The dog will have suffered physical pain and in addition showed clear signs of emotional distress."

The RSPCA launched an investigation after being given the harrowing footage (Image: RSPCA)

The female Cockapoo has since been happily rehomed (Image: RSPCA)

The vet said Hardy had inflicted pain and fear on both dogs and they had suffered unnecessarily as a result.

Magistrates heard that on August 6 Hardy was due to be interviewed by an RSPCA inspector at a police station about what had happened, but he failed to turn up. 

On September 1, during another visit to Prior Court the charity's inspector was told he had left the property, and further attempts to make contact with him were unsuccessful. Hardy, who will not be able to contest his ban for 10 years, was also given 10 rehabilitation days and told to attend a thinking skills programme and pay costs of £600.

Speaking after the conclusion of the case, RSPCA Chief Inspector Mark Gent said: "The video footage of these dogs being abused by Hardy multiple times was very difficult to watch. It's hard to understand how someone can treat animals with such contempt and cruelty, and we will never know, as the defendant refused to be interviewed about it. We'd sincerely like to thank the police and the security staff for their assistance in this case which has been upsetting for everyone involved."

The female Cockapoo was looked after at a private boarding facility on behalf of the RSPCA and has since been happily rehomed.