A man who launched a frenzied attack on his dog that caused the pet so much pain that a crowd gathered because of the noise has been sent to prison.

John Maher, aged 41, of Bulwer Road, Keresley returned to house after a drinking session one evening in August.

His Staffordshire Bull Terrier, called Coco, playfully bi him and Maher reached for the nearest thing that he could reach to discipline the animal.

Coventry Magistrates Court heard that Maher hit the animal repeatedly on the head with a claw hammer.

The dog’s squeals of pain were heard by neighbours who looked over the fence and saw what was going on.

They called the police and went to the front of the house, where a crowd of other neighbours, some from another street, had gathered because of the noise of the distressed animal.

The dog suffered severe head injuries but has since recovered. It has been re-homed with a family in Coventry.

Maher was today sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment for the attack after he pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Magistrates decided not to go along with a recommendation in a pre-sentence report that he be given probation.

They also banned him from keeping any domestic animals for life and ordered that he should pay £320 costs.

An RSPCA spokesperson said they were pleased with the result of the case, particularly the ban, as it prevented Maher from having the chance to do this to an animal again.