A MAN was banned from keeping animals for five years after being caught on camera suspending his Yorkshire Terrier by the neck and beating him over the head several times.

Bradley Robertson, a 27 year-old from Tilbury, was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £560 costs after being found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to his dog, seven year-old Scamp.

The owner tried to claim the black and tan terrier sometimes urinated on the floor of the lift and corridors, and he was holding him in the air to stop him doing this.

WARNING: THE VIDEO FOOTAGE IS DISTRESSING

Lewis Taylor, RSPCA inspector, said: “The footage shows this terrier being strung by his neck on the lead and then hit in a callously casual way. Poor Scamp would have been in a lot of pain.

“There is just no excuse for treating a defenceless animal, and one which he was responsible for, with such a complete lack of care and I am very pleased he has been given a ban. Hopefully this will protect other animals from a similar fate.”

Scamp and the man's other dog, a two-year-old whippet cross called Dash, were taken into RSPCA care.