A woman killed her dog after flying into a fit of rage when her ex-girlfriend spurned her advances.
Natasha Brown punched her Yorkshire terrier in the head four times after a cocktail of medication and alcohol made her ‘snap’.
The dog was ‘screaming’ during the attack before it went ‘limp and lifeless’, a court heard.
Brown also bit her ex, grabbed her throat and smashed her head against the wall during the violent rampage.
The 25-year-old had met up with her former partner to discuss the return of some items and had brought her pet dog with her.
Oriana Frame, prosecuting, said everything was fine at first, but after Brown had consumed lager and a bottle of wine, she tried to kiss and cuddle her ex, who said no and asked her to leave.
Mrs Frame said: ‘Her dog was sitting on the sofa, she picked up her dog and punched it four times to the head with force. It was screaming. It went limp and lifeless.’
Brown’s ex, who had been staying with her great uncle, 82, managed to phone the police.
When they arrived the dog appeared to be having a fit and was shaking uncontrollably.
Vets said it had a bleed on its brain and an injured leg so they couldn’t save it.
In his statement, the elderly man said at 82-years-old he couldn’t stop the defendant and was frightened at what she would do next.
Brown was spared jailed for the attack, which happened on October 1 this year.
She sobbed throughout the court hearing saying she was sorry and that she ‘hated’ herself.
Angus Westgarth, defending, said: ‘I have no doubts at all that there is very, very deep regret.
‘She is still torturing herself about what she did.’
He said she takes medication for mental health problems and this coupled with alcohol caused her to snap.
She took her rage out on her dog to stop herself from hitting her ex, the court heard.
Brown admitted two charges of assault and one of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
She was given a 24-week jail sentence, suspended for 24 months and was handed a two-year restraining order against her ex.
She was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £122 victim surcharge.
