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Page last updated at 12:18 GMT, Friday, 9 May 2008 13:18 UK
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Man jailed for stabbing pet puppy

The grave in which Benji was buried
RSPCA officers found the dog's body in a shallow grave

A man has been jailed after stabbing his dog to death and burying him in a shallow grave in his back garden.

Sean Bushell-Clarke, 26, of Bulford Road, Liverpool, attacked Benji, a Husky-Labrador Cross, after getting a rejection letter for a job.

Liverpool magistrates sent him to prison for four months and banned from keeping animals for five years.

Bushell-Clarke admitted punching the four-month-old puppy about 10 times before stabbing him in his back.

'Merciless cruelty'

Magistrates heard Bushell-Clarke then wrapped Benji's body in two black bin liners before burying it in his back garden.

RSPCA inspectors were alerted by a member of the public.

Jonathan Brooks, an RSPCA inspector, said: "This was a shocking and wanton act of cruelty, carried out mercilessly and without provocation. The sentence reflects the callous and cruel nature of this case, and I'm very pleased with the result.

"There's no excusing what this man did. He showed complete disregard for the life he was taking, or the suffering he caused in doing so."



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