PREVIEW

An animal abuser caught on camera repeatedly punching his dog in a “traumatic” attack has narrowly avoided prison.
CCTV showed Kevin Brisley delivering blows to the head and ribs of his Staffordshire bull terrier-cross at a bus stop in Folkestone, Kent.
The dog could be seen recoiling as the homeless 60-year-old struck it multiple times in broad daylight.
A horrified woman who witnessed the attack called police, while another onlooker intervened and took the dog away from Brisley.
The animal was later found to have swelling and bruising to its head following the incident on October 6 last year.
Brisley, who is currently being housed in a hotel as part of a winter shelter scheme, was arrested and agreed to hand the dog over to authorities.
He was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and admitted the offence when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (January 27).
Prosecutor Julie Farbrace told the court the incident was witnessed by a shop worker who was on a break between 4.30pm and 5pm.
“She went out to have a cigarette and heard shouting coming from the bus shelter,” she said.
Describing how the woman saw the dog being struck by Brisley, Ms Farbrace added: “She said it was about six times.
“If he was threatened (by the dog), a couple may be excused, but these were separate, deeper punches.
“There are gaps in between the punches, so it’s potentially worse.
“The dog had not jumped up and had not bitten anything, and it’s not clear from the CCTV why [the defendant] did that. The dog was not aggressive.
“We would say he’s not a fit and proper owner to have a dog.”
Police arrested Brisley, who initially denied punching the dog and claimed he had simply been playing with it when shown the CCTV footage.
The dog was taken to a vet by the RSPCA and found to have swelling to the left side of its face.
Ms Farbrace said it was no longer with Brisley, although it was not known what had happened to it since.
The court heard Brisley had previous convictions but none of a similar nature and nothing since 2007.
District Judge William Nelson watched the CCTV footage during the hearing and described it as “rather distressing”.
Defending, Maggie Biglou said her client was “disgusted with his behaviour”.
“He was street-homeless and the dog was his companion,” she said.
“He was not in a good place; he has PTSD, and he’s had skin grafts as he was in a horrific fire in 2022.
“He doesn’t even know why he did it. His alcohol consumption was high at the time and he had a lot of issues.
“He showed me a picture of the dog on his phone. He gave up the dog immediately.
“He’s devastated by his behaviour. He loved that dog, but feels he’s not fit to have a dog; he is disgusted with his behaviour.”
The court heard Brisley’s accommodation at the hotel had helped reduce his alcohol intake, but that he may be back on the streets again once the winter scheme ends.
“He may be homeless again when the weather is better,” Ms Biglou added.
A probation officer told the court Brisley said the dog had inexplicably gone into protective mode while he was sitting in the bus shelter, and that he had been trying to control it.
He told her he had reacted incorrectly because he had been drinking heavily at the time.
“The dog was a great support to him, and it always wore a muzzle and was on the lead; he’s certainly been a responsible owner previously,” she said.
“It was a build-up of events - the fire struggles and the homelessness.
“He used to be a demolition expert, but because of an injury, he had to give it up.”
The court heard Brisley later lost his home and that, despite having four grown-up children, none were able to offer him accommodation. The probation officer suggested he would benefit from rehabilitation sessions.
Passing sentence, Judge Nelson said it was a “particularly sad case” but described the CCTV footage as “traumatic” to watch.
He said Brisley’s behaviour had fallen “woefully short” of what was expected of a responsible dog owner.
“On the CCTV footage, you pause and then punch the dog, and that continues for a period of time.
“You were punching it on or around the face, and it’s more than minor. It was a deliberate attempt to cause suffering.
“You continued to punch the dog, and it suffered swelling and bruising to its eye.
“It’s made more serious because you did it while you were intoxicated and in front of others; one [person] was so moved she called the police and provided a statement.”
The judge said a message needed to be sent to others who abuse animals, but accepted Brisley was at low risk of reoffending.
An 18-week prison sentence was reduced by a third to 12 weeks and suspended for a year.
Brisley was also banned from owning a dog for two years after being deemed not a fit and proper person to care for one.
He must complete 10 rehabilitation sessions and pay £157 in victim surcharge, along with £85 in court costs.