RSPCA: Man jailed after doorbell camera caught him dragging dog behind scooter - moments before abusing her

A man who was caught on a doorbell camera dragging his XL bully-type dog along while riding an electric scooter has been jailed, for repeatedly assaulting her from the time she was a puppy.

Lucas Slim-Fitzpatrick has been sentenced to 19 months imprisonment at the Bristol Crown Court, after he was convicted of inflicting serious injuries to his 10-month old dog, called Luna, and has been banned from keeping pets for 20 years. The 27-year-old, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, earlier pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act, for assaulting and neglecting the dog between June and December 2022.

At the sentencing, a judge said Slim-Fitzpatrick had shown little remorse for his actions. “This was prolonged, lengthy violence towards an animal in your care who should have been protected by you rather than becoming your punchbag.”

A vet who examined Luna said she had suffered blunt force trauma injuries in at least three separate incidents. Ring Doorbell footage, which captured Slim-Fitzpatrick on his electric scooter immediately before one of the assaults, helped the RSPCA to launch the prosecution.