Nicholas Reece, 48, was observed to hit and kick the dog in the head
An East London man has been banned from keeping dogs for five years after handlers witnessed him mistreating his dog, which had previously been left to wander the streets as a stray.
Nicolas Reece, 48, of Stratford, appeared at Thames Magistrates Court in Bow, where he pleaded guilty to five charges in relation to his dog Bear.
Reece has now been ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and banned from keeping a dog for five years for animal cruelty.
Bear was rescued from the streets twice as a stray by Newham Council’s Animal Welfare team in May last year. When Reece went to collect Bear the second time from Newham’s animal welfare kennels in Jenkins Lane, he was observed to kick and hit the animal on the head in apparent frustration.
Animal Welfare Officers intervened and Bear was removed from Reece’s care. Reece was charged with allowing Bear out without a collar and identification tag, failing to ensure the dog was unable to escape and become a stray, and causing him pain and suffering by kicking and hitting him.
The 48-year-old admitted five charges when he appeared in at Bow Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 7. He was also made to pay £1,300 costs, along with a victim surcharge of £114.
Bear has now been rehomed by the Newham Animal Welfare team.
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