Neighbour discovered 'abhorrent, barbaric, extremely upsetting' scene of stabbed dogs

MENTAL HEALTH MIXED WITH ALCOHOL BINGE MADE CULPRIT AN 'ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN' SAID JUDGE

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

A 45-YEAR-OLD Nottinghamshire man killed a dog when he stabbed it through its heart.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how Simon Elliott also repeatedly stabbed a second pet after both were left in his care by friends who trusted him while they went on holiday.

A neighbour who entered the defendant's property and found Rosie the beagle "stiff and cold" as well as the other pet - a Staffie called Sabre - with a number of wounds.

S h e described the scene she found inside his flat as "abhorrent and barbaric".

Sending him to prison for 18 months, Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said: "Only you will know how clearly you remember what happened.

"You knew you had mental health issues and you knew you had been on (an alcohol) binge.

"You were an accident waiting to happen and all you had to say to (the victims) was 'I am sorry, I can't look after the dogs.