by Hayley Robinson

A Sittingbourne man has been found guilty of beating his pet dog to death with a claw hammer in his back garden.

Christopher Dance, 23, of Knightsfield Road, Sittingbourne, had previously denied causing unnecessary suffering to an animal when he was charged in May last year.

But yesterday Sittingbourne Magistrates found Dance guilty of beating his bull terrier cross breed dog Charley to death and failing to protect his Jack Russell dog who died following a fight with Charley.

The case has been adjourned for sentencing until Wednesday, March 3.