A DRUG-addled man who videoed himself torturing and killing a pet rabbit called Pancake — cackling and taunting the bunny's owner as he did it — has been sentenced to 90 days in jail.

High on a cocktail of drugs, including ice, self-professed animal lover Karim Salem, 27, teased the bunny's owner, known only as Jemma, as he carried the animal by its ears, hurled it against a brick wall and repeatedly ran over it as it lay injured in the dirt.

“Hello Jemma. I’ve warned you sweetheart. Now look what’s going to happen to poor Pancake,” Salem said into the camera of his mobile phone as he held the then unharmed animal by the ears.

Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said an emotionless Salem laughed during the "perverse, revengeful act" as he wounded, tortured, beat and tormented the rabbit, before killing it.

"You showed no mercy at any stage towards the animal," Mr Vandersteen said. "The animal was defenceless, your acts were premeditated."

Mr Vandersteen said he would have jailed the Chelsea man for eight months had he not pleaded guilty to the disgusting crime, which he was charged with after police found the footage in his mobile phone after seizing it on an unrelated matter.

Defence lawyer Martin Amad said Salem — whose priors include drug, dishonesty and driving offences — was embarrassed and ashamed of his behaviour, especially because he loved animals and let his own dog sleep in his bed.

Mr Amad said his client could not recall the incident, only that he was getting retribution on Jemma by destroying her beloved pet because he believed she turned his brothers against him.

Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard Salem's inability to control himself worsened when he took illicit substances and he suffered from adult ADHD and had anti-social aspects to his personality.

The footage, viewed by the Herald Sun, showed Salem shaking the rabbit to make it look like it was saying hello, before saying, “Goodbye, Pancake,” and pitching the pet at a brick wall.

After requesting Jemma continue watching, Salem lined up his car tyre with the injured bunny as it tried in vain to stand, before stopping the car on top of it as it squealed in pain.

Salem, a cabinet maker, cruelly laughed as the rabbit tried to escape and described its mutilated body before directing an unknown female to run over it again.

“Its eyes are nearly going to explode — now that’s a pancake,” Salem said.

Salem pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail.

He was sentenced to a 90-day jail term, to be followed by a 12-month community corrections order that includes 200 hours of community work and treatment for substance abuse, mental health and behavioural issues.

Salem immediately lodged an appeal against his sentence and was freed on bail after spending around one hour in custody.

emily.portelli@news.com.au