A BIRKENHEAD man who snapped his four-month-old puppy’s front legs has had his sentencing delayed after he was taken into custody for a separate offence.

Stefan McCormick, of Devonshire Road, was due to appear at Wirral magistrates court on Monday morning after admitting the brutal attack on his Staffordshire bull terrier, Ty.

But the 23-year-old’s hearing was pushed back after problems occurred after he was taken into custody for an assault, which he admitted last month.

District Judge Michael Abelson told the short hearing that “events had overtaken” the RSPCA matter and set a new sentencing date for later this month.

McCormick pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his puppy when he appeared at Wirral magistrates in August.

He had initially claimed Ty – who had to be put down due to the severity of his injuries - had been hurt in a road traffic accident.

Chris Murphy, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, previously told magistrates that when vets attempted to examine it, the dog “screamed” out in pain before it “knuckled” over onto its forelimbs, collapsing head-first onto the table.

The court heard that Ty’s injuries could only be caused by both legs being pulled apart at the same time with a great deal of force.

Merseyside Police had anticipated protests outside the Birkenhead court on Monday, with a number of officers stationed around the building.

McCormick is due to be sentenced for the assault at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.