A WIRRAL man who beat his daughter's dog to death and dumped the body in alley has been jailed for 23 weeks.

Alan Pownall was sentenced at Wirral Magistrates' court. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the Staffordshire bull terrier, named Halo, at an earlier hearing last month.

As well as the prison sentence, Pownall, 60, from Reay Court in Seacombe was disqualified from keeping animals for life and was ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

The court heard that Halo's body was found lying on top of a children's paddling pool and various rubbish in an alleyway behind houses in Paterson Street, Birkenhead, on February 2 this year.

Halo, who at the time Pownall was looking after for his daughter, had blood around her nose but did not appear to have any obvious injuries.

The photograph of Halo is too distressing to publish.

A police officer contacted the RSPCA, and Halo’s body was taken away for a post-mortem examination by RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes.

The post-mortem examination showed that Halo had suffered severe damage to her liver as a result of multiple blunt forces consistent with being kicked.

Pownall’s defence solicitor said in court that Pownall had no recollection of the incident as he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Inspector Joynes said: "This was a stomach-churning case of brutal violence against a young defenceless Staffie.

"It still troubles me greatly knowing how terrified poor Halo would have been.

"She was being hurt by the person who she relied upon to protect her.

"I've done this job for almost nine years and it doesn't get any easier dealing with incidents like this.

"Arriving at a scene and finding an already deceased animal that has been abused in such a horrific way is hard to switch off from.

"Pownall now has many long weeks in a cell to reflect on his cruel actions and I'm glad that our action has meant that Halo's suffering hasn't gone completely unanswered."