by Tricia Jamieson

tjamieson@thekmgroup.co.uk

The owner of a dog found beaten to death on the beach at Folkestone has denied causing the animal any injuries.

Anthony Ponter told magistrates he had left the 22-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog tied to a lamppost in a fit of rage and when he returned to get her 10 minutes later she had gone.

"I am an animal lover," said Ponter. "I did not cause any of those injuries.

"The love I had for the dog was astonishing."

Folkestone magistrates heard how the dog, Bella, was found dead on Sunny Sands Beach on December 16, 2009.

Ellie Bryant, for the RSPCA, said she had suffered "horrific" injuries.

Her head and muzzle had been smashed in and there was a lot of blood and dog faeces around the body.

Nearby was a stone which was covered in blood.

Ponter, 24, of St Andrew's Close, Folkestone, admitted leaving an animal unattended by tying it to a post and not taking steps to ensure the needs of the animal were met, contrary to section nine of the Animal Welfare Act.

He was fined £350 and ordered to pay £150 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He was also banned from keeping dogs for two years.

Miss Bryant said a Shepway council cleaning supervisor was alerted to Bella's body being found under the arches on the beach.

She went there with council dog warden Karyl Rimmer and they found the body plus a lot of dog faeces and blood around the area.

Following publicity in the local press and on Facebook, on December 22 Kerry Dwyer reported that she thought the dog belonged to Ponter, her ex-partner.

Miss Bryant said that on December 14, Miss Dwyer had told Ponter that Bella had chewed the kitchen floor.

At 2am Ponter began shouting at Miss Dwyer and she asked him to leave which he did, taking Bella with him.

Miss Dwyer had said Ponter was "very angry".

Ponter later told Miss Dwyer he had tied Bella to a lamppost and when he returned she had gone.

He was interviewed and admitted Bella was his. He said he was woken by Miss Dwyer who asked him to get the dog out as she had chewed the lino.

He tied the dog to a lamppost and a couple of days later heard the body had been found under the arches.

Miss Bryant added: "He did not take such steps to ensure that the needs of the animal were met which led to the death of the dog in an horrific manner."

Ponter said he was guilty of taking Bella out and tying her up.

"It was purely due to anger," he said.

He said he knew who had caused Bella's injuries and had told the police.

"I am pleading guilty to tying her to the post not to causing injury to her," he said.

"I tied her up, smoked a cigarette then felt guilty about leaving her and after five or 10 minutes walked back. By the time I got back she had been taken."

Ponter said he worked around the country and sometimes abroad as an industrial cleaner.

He added that he had owned Bella since she was 10 weeks old and was always around dogs.