CONVICTED (2023) | Mark Brown aka Mark Defty, born 14 December 1999, originally from Seaham, County Durham, but more recently of Gateshead – thrashed a petrified dog with a metal lead. Violent dog abuser Mark Brown is better known as Mark Defty. Of no fixed abode, he has a lengthy criminal record to his name. Pic: Facebook Brown, who has previous for domestic violence, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the brindle and white dog called Rocco after being arrested by police. “Vicious” Staffy Rocco endured a savage beating by his previous owner, Mark Defty A 37 second video clip showed Brown hitting Rocco repeatedly on the head and back with the end of a metal lead. The cowering dog was hit eight times in 10 seconds and flinched with every blow. The offence took place in the vicinity of Marion Court in Gateshead, on November 3, 2022. Thankfully Rocco had no signs of physical injury following the attack, but had been caused to suffer fear and pain. An independent expert veterinary report stated: “His fear was likely to have been a repeated state on previous occasions when this person was with Rocco as he immediately submitted to his attacker and attempted to flee.” Police seized Rocco and passed him into the care of the RSPCA where he remained throughout the legal proceedings. The court heard in Brown’s defence that Rocco was “vicious” and Brown had hit him after the dog tried to attack him. Following the hearing, RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws said: “This was a vicious attack on a young defenceless animal who had been in Brown’s care. “It is completely unacceptable to treat any animal in this way and we will always look into reports of animal cruelty and, where necessary, seek justice for that animal.” Rocco is now looking for a new home with a loving owner. Sentencing | 18 month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years but can contest the ban after five years (expires March 2033). Chronicle Live