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| Police officers kicked pet dogs | Police officers kicked pet dogs |
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| Two police officers have been told they face possible jail sentences for causing suffering and "mental terror" to their two dogs. | Two police officers have been told they face possible jail sentences for causing suffering and "mental terror" to their two dogs. |
| Magistrates in Denbigh heard how Anja Mason, 29 and Craig Macleod, 34, who lived together in Prestatyn, now also face losing their jobs. | Magistrates in Denbigh heard how Anja Mason, 29 and Craig Macleod, 34, who lived together in Prestatyn, now also face losing their jobs. |
| A neighbour called the RSPCA and filmed them hitting and kicking the pets. | |
| Both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a collier pup called Tess and Macleod to a rottweiler, Snoopy. | Both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a collier pup called Tess and Macleod to a rottweiler, Snoopy. |
| Both will be sentenced on 25 November. | Both will be sentenced on 25 November. |
| The court was told a neighbour had been concerned about the ill-treatment of dogs at the property and had called the RSPCA on several occasions. | |
| There were several incidents of deliberate ill-treatment and frightening of the dogs Wendy Gibbs, chair of magistrates | |
| However, when an RSPCA inspector found no evidence of cruelty she purchased camera equipment and positioned it overlooking the couple's yard. | |
| Prosecuting, Glenn Murphy said: "To her credit this lady purchased a camera and she took many hours of video footage." | |
| A DVD, about 15-20 minutes in length, was played to the court. | |
| In one scene Mason was filmed hitting the pup's head and kicking her. | |
| Later the dog was seen pulling washing from a line before Macleod emerged from the house and chased it to a corner of the yard. Out of shot of the camera the dog could then be heard yelping. | |
| In other scenes, Macleod sprayed the dogs with water and Mason is seen chasing the puppy with what appears to be a stick. | |
| The rottweiler can also be heard yelping as it is apparently abused by Macleod off camera. | |
| The court heard how Maceod had been concerned that the rottweiler was "over-zealous" with his eight-year-old daughter when she visited and he had been advised by a dog handler to spray water as a a deterrent. | |
| Magistrates chairwoman Wendy Gibbs told the defendants: "There were several incidents of deliberate ill-treatment and frightening of the dogs." | |
| She said the magistrates had found no mitigating factors. | |
| She added: "You intentionally caused pain and suffering to both dogs and mental terror to both dogs." | |
| "You risked injury to both dogs by kicking them." | |
| She said all sentencing options would remain open, including custody | |
| Both defendants had faced six charges relating to alleged offences between March and April 2008. | |
| However the majority of the charges were withdrawn when no evidence was offered against them. | |
| The court heard the DVD had been viewed by a vet who concluded "the actions were not those of a reasonably competent and humane carer". | |
| Defending, Joanne Stephens said neither Mason nor Macleod had intended to cause the animals pain. | |
| The court heard both dogs were signed over to the RSPCA by their owners and are now doing well. | |
| Miss Stephens said: "The defendants stand to lose their jobs as a result of having a criminal conviction which would effect their livelihoods." | |
| North Wales Police has been asked to comment. |