A man from Newcastle has been caught on CCTV, callously throwing his Pomeranian into railings and then into the River Wear.
Stephen Peveller, 48, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for causing “unnecessary suffering” to his pet who died in the icy river.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that on December 17, 2022, Mr Peveller was walking near Panns Bank in Sunderland, next to the river.
Prosecutor, Penny Hall described the actions of the dog owner. She said: “He dragged it by the neck before throwing it towards some railings alongside a path by the River Wear. There are railings and then a drop into the river beyond it.”
She added: “The dog hit the railings and fell on its back. It moves, frantically trying to get back up. The defendant tried to put it on its legs, which it eventually managed to do itself … he then pushed the dog off and it went out of sight, clearly going into the river.”
Mr Peveller’s actions were observed by a Sunderland Council worker who was near the area. The council worker then contacted police and when they initially spoke to the man in question, he claimed his dog had fallen in the river.
Chronicle Live reports the police subsequently found the Pomeranian dead in the river.
The recorder, Mark Giulanim said: “He killed the dog through his actions. He threw it against the railings and it is injured and then he threw the injured dog into the river. It was sadistic behaviour. He dragged the dog, the dog looked up to him for help and he puts it over the barrier and pushed it into the cold river.”
The judge concluded that the dog had looked at her owner as a “master for support”, but Mr Peveller did nothing to assist her and had killed his own dog “callously and wickedly”.
Mr Peveller pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. As well as the prison sentence he was banned from owning or keeping animals for life.
The court also heard the pet owner has mild learning difficulties and the dog was an emotional support pet.
Defending, Jennifer Coxon said: “There is no getting around that this was a hideous incident and there’s not much mitigation I can put forward for his behaviour given he has no memory of what he has done. It’s an awful incident in relation to a dog which was his own for some time.”
She added: “He can’t recall owning a dog himself. He is a vulnerable man and has limited intellectual functioning. He is in supported accommodation with support from social services although that’s going to be reduced because of how he presents currently, he is more able to look after his needs.”
