A thug who viciously battered his dog with a plastic pole has walked free from court with a suspended jail sentence.

Richard Stewart, 35, delivered 27 sickening blows to the head and body of his pet dog Peggy, an American bull terrier he described in court as his 'best friend'.

The entire, 40 second-long attack in Middleton was recorded on mobile phone video.

The footage shows Peggy cowering in terror near a door at Stewart's home. He strikes the dog repeatedly whilst swearing and calling the three year-old dog a 'dirty b*****d'.

The footage then shows Stewart laughing following the attack as he says: “Is that enough?”

But he escaped an immediate prison sentence after a district judge took into account his age, his early guilty plea and admissions and his clean criminal record.

District Judge Jonathan Feinstein also said he considered Stewart's remorse and the fact that he has given up Peggy into the care of the RSPCA.

Stewart, of Winster Drive, Middleton, used a vacuum cleaner extension pole to inflict the beating after Peggy soiled the carpet at his home.

Bury magistrates court was told that Stewart and a friend had been drinking at the time of the attack in March.

His friend filmed the attack on his mobile phone, but later handed the footage over to the RSPCA.

An investigation followed and Stewart, who works as a cleaner, was arrested and charged. He pleaded guilty to a single count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Stewart was jailed for eight weeks, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.

He was also banned from keeping any animal as a pet for five years.

The RSPCA welcomed the sentence and described the attack as 'vicious, unnecessary and unprovoked'. Peggy, who remarkably escaped any injury, is now being cared for at an animal centre in Warrington.

The RSPCA is looking for a permanent home for her.

Stewart sat with his head in his hands in the dock as district judge Feinstein watched the footage in court.

Anna McDonald, prosecuting, said Peggy was subjected to 'blunt-force trauma' and added: “The dog was examined by a vet and there were no injuries. But it would have been caused to suffer unnecessarily, with physical pain and emotional distress. There was no long-lasting injury.”

Peggy, a white and brindle-coloured bull terrier, is heard whimpering and yelping as Stewart carries out the attack.

Ms McDonald said: “He struck the dog across the head and the back. The vet has viewed the footage and said there were 27 strikes to the dog.

Mr Stewart has now signed the dog over to the RSPCA. The dog was submissive with the RSPCA. It was clearly an animal that was very afraid of people.”

David Hewitt, defending, said the dog was given to Stewart by his father and said Stewart was 'ashamed and disgusted' by his actions.

Mr Hewitt said Peggy was micro-chipped and well cared for and added: “He describes the dog as his best friend. This was not an on-going scenario. It was a one-off incident. He admitted the incident in interview and pleads guilty.

“His friend alerted the authorities.”

District judge Feinstein described the footage as 'very unpleasant'.

Sentencing Stewart he said: “It is the use of a weapon against a defenceless animal.

“This is a repeated attack and it is beyond chastisement. It is brutal. It is impossible not to feel a sense of revulsion and sickness. The dog was cowering, whimpering and crying.”

After the case RSPCA deputy chief inspector Ben Strangwood said: “It was a vicious, unnecessary and unprovoked attack on a very sweet-natured dog. The court dealt with the case in an appropriate manner and this sends out a strong message to the public about animal cruelty.

“We are looking for a loving home for Peggy.”

The video shown to the court is below. Viewer discretion is advised as it contains shocking and unpleasant material. Do not watch if you think you are going to find it upsetting.