Man sentenced over cruelty to dog

Bronx had a cut on his head and was staggering around, the court heard

A Bristol man who hit his dog and gave it a dangerous amount of lager has been given a community service order.

Magistrates in the city heard that Bronx, a bull mastiff, was staggering and in a confused state when he was rescued by the RSPCA.

Andrew Wilson, 30, of Ringwood Crescent, Southmead, admitted beating the animal and giving him two-thirds of a can of Stella Artois.

He was sentenced to 150 hours' community service.

Additionally he was banned from keeping warm-blooded animals for a year.

RSPCA inspector Alan Barnes had been called out to rescue the five-year-old dog in June 2008 after a tip-off.

Vet Mandy Stone told the court: "Bronx had a nasty cut on his head and was staggering around, looking confused and generally depressed.

"It wasn't until Andrew Wilson was questioned and admitted that he gave Bronx alcohol that I realised why.

"He had a dangerous amount of alcohol in his body and had Bronx been a smaller dog, may not have survived."