Joiner who bludgeoned dogs to death jailed

Terence Simpson carried out the "sickening" acts of cruelty in his

garden shed and then went with his young son to dump the bodies in bin bags near his house in Embleton Road, Methley, Leeds.

An RSPCA inspector described it as one of the worst cases she had seen in 21 years.

Simpson, 33, admitted six offences of animal cruelty – three involving the hammer attacks and three relating to failures to care for his other three dogs.

Leeds Magistrates' Court heard that he had drunk about 12 lagers before he attacked the dogs, two border terriers and a cross-breed bitch. He told a friend he was "fed up" of the animals.

He was banned for life from keeping animals.

His solicitor, Ian Cook, told the court his client was "not only

sickened and horrified by his actions but also confused that he could act in such a fashion".

Simpson had "snapped in a quite unbelievable and destructive fashion" after his wife had been taken to a hospital for treatment for psychosis caused by cannabis abuse, said Mr Cook.

Her absence left him with four children and six dogs as well as his own problems with alcohol abuse.

Phyllis Caffoor, presiding, told Simpson: "These were sickening actions which involved extreme violence on defenceless animals that relied on you for their welfare."

She added: "The deaths were not instantaneous... when you disposed of the bodies you took your young son, exposing him to your cruelty."