Dog Shooter Jailed

30 August 2013, 11:21 | Updated: 30 August 2013, 11:24

A man from Northampton who shot his dog six times and left it to die in a ditch has been jailed for 20 weeks.

Marc Turnbull also hit cross-breed Rocky with a shovel in an attempt to kill the dog.

The 38-year-old claimed inflicting the injuries was his only option after he failed to find another home for the animal.

Magistrates heard Turnbull shot the dog with an air rifle, battered him with a spade and left the dog in a ditch on the A5 near Weedon, Northamptonshire, on 21 April 2013.

Rocky was found by a member of the public three days later. He had severe head injuries and x-rays showed he had been shot five times in the head and once in the leg.

He also had a large open wound on the back of his head which was down to the ridge of the skull and had been caused by a blow to the head.

Turnbull, who was traced due to the dog being microchipped, admitted three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to Rocky.

He was jailed for 20 weeks at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 27 August 2013. He was also banned from keeping animals for 20 years.

Rocky survived his injuries and has since been rehomed by the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Michelle McNab said: "This was a truly unbelievable case that involved immense suffering to the dog.

"Fortunately, Rocky was found and amazingly he survived. He has since been rehomed to a loving family.''