Man, 22, caught stomping on head of ‘defenceless’ puppy called Biscuit

A man has been banned from keeping pets after he stamped on his puppy’s head because ‘he needed to teach the dog how to behave’.

Cameron Brunning, 22, was caught on CCTV attacking his two-year-old bulldog Biscuit in a lift in the block of flats where he lived.

In the footage, he can be seen dragging the Old Tyme bulldog by the lead before proceeding to stamp on her head, kick her and shout at her once in the lift.

Another clip shows Brunning, from St. Cuthbert’s Court, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, lifting the dog by her throat.

He then dangled her in front of the mirror for roughly ten seconds before dropping her, in an attack believed to have occurred in September or October 2023.

In a statement read out to court, RSPCA Inspector Keogh-Laws: ‘The dog looks terrified and she cowers and tries to move away to the furthest corner of the lift.

‘The dog didn’t appear to be doing anything leading up to or during the beatings which were completely unprovoked.’

Brunning was caught through ‘pure luck’ after CCTV footage was analysed by a concierge trying to identify someone entering the building without a fob.

This led to a visit by an RSPCA investigator and two police officers, who who found Biscuit scared of being petted.

Brunning claimed ‘he needed to teach the dog how to behave’, when questioned by the RSPCA investigator.

The dog’s suffering, lasting for at least four weeks, was so severe a vet found signs of muscle trauma and concluded it had ‘taken a mental toll on her as well’.

‘Now Biscuit can look forward to a new life with a new owner’, Keogh-Laws said.

‘She is a really nice dog who settled well in our kennels and she will make someone a lovely pet.’

Biscuit has been housed at the RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre while the charity looks for a new home.

Appearing at Gateshead Magistrates’ Court, the 22-year-old pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the bulldog by inflicting physical and mental abuse.

He also admitted a separate offence of failing to meet the needs of the dog.

Banned from keeping animals for five years, Brunning was also sentenced to a 12-month rehabilitation order.

Brunning had been ordered to pay a £200 contribution to court costs, along with a £114 victim surcharge.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.