A man accused of swinging his new French bulldog above his head by the lead and slamming it on the ground before kicking, punching and dragging it “like a rag doll” had his jail term reduced.

District judge Gwyn Jones at Llandudno court had told 39-year-old John Trafford, a labourer, of Lon Olwen, Kinmel Bay: "This incident occurred just one day after you as a family unit had spent a considerable amount of money, I am told £1,500, on a dog …. who obviously was hoping it would be cared for and loved. It's clear that's not what happened on the following day.

"I've had the opportunity of viewing the CCTV footage.

“No doubt the dog was terrified and was in significant pain as a result of your behaviour. It's equally clear this was a deliberate and gratuitous act on your part to cause suffering to that dog.”

Judge Jones said Ronnie the bulldog could have been killed.

He commended the public-spiritedness of eyewitnesses “who had the guts to challenge somebody behaving in this way.”

The judge said: "They did so not knowing the risks you could have posed to them.”

Trafford had been “totally and utterly out of control,” he added.

A 20 weeks jail term was imposed. Trafford was also banned from owning or being in charge of a dog for 15 years.

“The extent of the violence you showed towards that dog justifies such a period of time,” Judge Jones declared.

Trafford admitted causing unnecessary suffering on May 19 at Kinmel Bay.

But Caernarfon crown court reduced the sentence to 12 weeks custody and a ten-year ban after an appeal.

At the earlier hearing prosecutor Rhian Jackson said Trafford had dragged the dog along the pavement “like a rag doll” and punched the pet hard repeatedly in the stomach. A woman had been “horrified and upset” by what she saw.

However, when police went to Trafford’s home the dog didn’t appear distressed.

The cruelty had been videoed and footage placed on Facebook. When the officer returned to his home, Ronnie’s previous owners arrived to ensure the dog was protected from further harm.

Mrs Jackson said Trafford’s partner was also angry after seeing the video.

The defendant told police he had been angry after Ronnie got “spooked” and ran off. He was “devastated and ashamed of himself.”

Nia Dawson, defending, said Trafford made no attempt to try and excuse his behaviour. He remained appalled.

“He simply can’t explain the way he behaved,” the solicitor said. “This is very much a one-off incident which has horrified him.”

The convicted burglar had been recalled on licence to prison a few days later. Trafford had panicked when the dog bolted but his reaction was “totally over the top.”

Happily, Ronnie wasn’t injured and had been placed with another local family. “It was a horrible incident and Mr Trafford is the first person to accept that,” Mrs Dawson added.