A MAN who assaulted a ­female sheriff’s officer when she refused to let him inside a court with his pet dog ­returned for his appeal - with the dead dog stuffed in a bag.

Gary Hubbuck, of Merewether, was charged with assaulting a law officer in the execution of her duty and ­resisting arrest after he tried to bring his pet kelpie-cross into Newcastle Local Court in ­September 2011.

“A verbal argument ensued and he was asked to leave,” police facts tendered to court read. “The accused, in a fit of anger, hit the plastic security tubs causing them to scatter.

“The accused stormed out, dog in tow.”

media_camera A dogsbody of a court case

He returned and when refused entry a second time because the dog was not a companion animal, the 50-year-old man shouldercharged a female sheriff’s officer “in the breast” causing her to fall on to a bollard, leaving her with a 10cm gash to her lower back.

Hubbuck charged past the checkpoint before a member of the public pinned him against a wall, allowing two sheriff’s officers to tackle him to the ground where he lay thrashing.

Hubbuck was convicted in Wyong Local Court last ­August and placed on a good behaviour bond for two years.

media_camera A kelpie-cross.

He appealed the conviction and was to appear at the District Court in Gosford last Thursday but shocked sheriff officers when he placed a large black duffel bag on the security X-ray conveyor. Clearly visible to them was the dog’s body.

A court sheriff claimed Hubbuck told him: “You wouldn’t let me bring it in alive so I’m bringing it in dead.”

The sheriff informed the man he could not bring a dead animal in and, according to the sheriff, the man turned around and left the dog behind. ­Hubbuck’s appeal was subsequently dismissed.

A spokesman for the RSPCA confirmed the dog had been legally euthanised at an animal shelter the morning of his appearance and the man was not facing any further charges relating to the incident.