A Kirkcaldy man who kicked his Yorkshire terrier five feet through the air in a heated rage has been ordered to complete 100 hours’ unpaid work.
The two-year-old pet, Sooty, yelped in pain when Jamie Stewart kicked it after an argument with his partner.
The 26-year-old had owned the dog since it was a puppy but he was labelled “out of control” by Sheriff James Williamson when he sent the dog flying from a communal stairwell back into his flat.
Police officers had attended the flat relating to a domestic argument when they witnessed Stewart carry out the attack.
Stewart had denied the incident but during his trial PC Austin Barrett said that he was heated and agitated when they saw him.
As the officers left the scene Stewart began to shout obscenities at the officers while they walked down the stairs.
PC Barrett said: “He was shouting and as I was looking back I saw him kick the dog with his right foot.
“As he kicked the dog it lifted up straight away, went through the air and back into the flat.”
He said the dog must have flown “at least five feet” through the air.
Stewart admitted during his trial that tempers were raised in his house.
He claimed he was angry that the police had attended at his flat rather than being angry with his partner.
Sheriff Williamson told Stewart: “You knew what you were doing when you kicked the dog. Even by your own evidence you were out of control.”
Stewart, of Cheviot Road, was found guilty of causing the dog unnecessary suffering by kicking it through the air from the communal stairwell into the flat.
Sheriff Williamson had deferred sentence for Stewart to be of good behaviour and to find employment after hearing that the dog was deemed to be unhurt after the attack.
Solicitor Jaclyn Meisel said that her client was a painter by trade and despite his “best efforts” had failed to secure himself a job.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Sheriff Williamson ordered Stewart to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within nine months.