Moray dog owner grabbed collie by scruff of neck and launched it down stairs

An Elgin man has admitted throwing his pet collie down a flight of stairs.

Clive Vincent-Ellis admitted picking up the dog by the scruff of its neck before dropping it down the stairs of his Moray home on September 1, last year.

The 52-year-old previously denied four charges of causing an animal unnecessary suffering at his Bishopmill home during both January and September 2021.

But ahead of a trial starting at Elgin Sheriff Court, he changed his plea and admitted one charge under the Animal Health and Welfare Scotland Act.

Vincent-Ellis admitted to causing the dog unnecessary suffering or harm.

Could be handed animal ban

Fiscal depute Emily Hood said she would be seeking a banning order to prevent Vincent-Ellis from owning animals and confirmed all his dogs were now in the care of welfare charity Scottish SPCA.

“The dogs involved in the incidents in question has been removed from the care of the owner,” she added.

“There’s one animal concerned in this charge and in respect of that animal and the others all in his care have been transferred to the care of the SSPCA.”

Defence agent Ben Thom said his client had “no intention” of caring for any more animals and added: “In effect, he no longer owns any animals and has no intention in the interim period to own any.”

Denies swinging dog by tail

The Crown accepted Vincent-Ellis’ denial that he swung a collie dog around by its tail and that he threw a dog to the ground last September. A not guilty plea to a further charge of punching a dog in January 2021 was also accepted.

Vincent-Ellis, of North Street, Bishopmill, had his sentencing deferred until next month after Sheriff David Sutherland ordered background reports be carried out.

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