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Beaten up over dog abuse row
A DOG owner was attacked in his home by a man and woman who wrongly believed he had been mistreating his pet.
Andrew Wymess and Amanda Anderson barged into Christopher Harris's South Shields home in July 3 and accused him of beating his Jack Russell.
During the late-night ordeal, Mr Harris was punched and kicked in the face by Wymess, who also threatened to tie him up with the cord from a telephone charger.
Anderson admitted punching Mr Harris twice, but claims it was only after he hit her first.
Prosecutor Neil Pallister told Newcastle Crown Court: "They were apparently annoyed as they had been told he had been mistreating his dog.
"They told the victim to admit kicking his dog or the beating would get worse.
"In the hope he would be left alone, he admitted mistreating his dog."
The court heard how Wymess then started stealing property, including a PlayStation 2, from Mr Harris's home and took the dog to a neighbour.
Mr Harris, who had cuts, bruising and a black eye, then took his chance to flee the house.
Mr Harris told police he felt very frightened during the incident and had been scared to go back home.
Wymess, who has previous convictions for violence, was arrested and told police he had been told during an all-day drinking session that Mr Harris had been mistreating his pet.
His barrister Bob Spragg told the court: "He allowed himself to get upset about what he perceived to be the mistreatment of the dog.
"Perhaps, with hindsight, the correct course would have been to ring the RSPCA."
Wymess, 19, of Galsworthy Road, South Shields, admitted assault and theft and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with two years extended licence period.
Anderson, 22, of Thornton Avenue, South Shields, admitted assault on the basis she acted in self defence which went too far.
She was sentenced to a community order for 18 months with supervision.
Mr Recorder Gibson said: "You assaulted him in his own home, that is a very serious aggravating feature.
"This arises, I am told, because you were annoyed having been informed he had been mistreating his dog."
The judge said he was satisfied Wymess posed a significant risk of serious harm to the public.
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
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