CONVICTED (2021) | Martin Dunn, born c. 1972, of Albion Gardens, Meltham, Holmfirth HD9 5AF – caught on camera punching a springer spaniel puppy. West Yorkshire Police were called after Dunn, a serving police and firearms officer with Greater Manchester Police, attacked the puppy, known as Frank, leaving him yelping in pain. Sergeant Martin Dunn who earns £44,000 a year, lost his temper and punched the five-month-old dog three or four times in the garden of his property on the evening of March 14, 2021. Dunn pleaded guilty to an offence of animal cruetly at an earlier hearing. Following the incident, Frank was examined initially by a vet and then a canine behaviour specialist. The latter noted in his report that the dog “reacted with extreme fear” when shouted at, indicating that he had learnt to fear such behaviour.” The behaviour specialist added: “Punching a dog repeatedly is not appropriate training.” A spokeswoman for Probation said that Dunn “saw red” after the puppy had made a mess. She added that he had been involved in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 and has been suffering from PTSD “but without realising it.” The defendant had been referred for treatment by Occupational Health. In mitigation, Sarah Barlow, said: “In this case there are a number of stress factors that came together on that evening that caused him to behave as he did. “He hung his head in shame when he saw the video. It was a complete one-off.” She said his job which saw him patrolling Manchester Airport “requires that at all times he is under control of his actions. “As a firearms officer he has a great responsibility. In short he can’t believe that he behaved as he did. “No excuses are made for it. This is the only occasion when he has behaved in any way like this. “The effects of witnessing what he did at Manchester Arena affected him very deeply. So often police officers don’t avail themselves of counselling fearing it will affect how they are viewed.” She said he was also involved in a “horrific neighbour dispute” and was hoping to sell the home he shared with his partner. She said it meant he “can’t relax either at work or at home.” There were also issues with the custody of his son. When Dunn was charged by West Yorkshire Police a Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “Police Sergeant Dunn is currently on restricted duties and the matter has been referred to Greater Manchester Police’s Professional Standards Branch.” Sentencing |12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work reduced from 180 hours because of his guilty plea. Costs and charges totalling £180. Disqualified for five years from keeping any animals apart from a lizard-type leopard gecko (expires April 2026). ExaminerLive Manchester Evening News Update | May 2023 It was reported that Greater Manchester Police have sacked Martin Dunn following his criminal conviction for animal cruelty. Dunn admitted gross misconduct at an independent disciplinary hearing on Tuesday 2 May 2023 and was dismissed without notice. GMP said Dunn, who was placed on restricted duties when the incident was reported, had “unreservedly accepted the allegations”. Ch Supt Michael Allen, head of GMP’s professional standards branch, said Dunn’s actions fell far short of the standard expected of police officers. “The vast majority of police officers and staff fulfil their duties in serving the public to the highest standard and demonstrate exemplary behaviour in their private lives,” he said. “Having a criminal conviction for animal cruelty makes Dunn wholly unsuitable to continue serving as a police officer and his cruelty towards Frank the dog is ultimately why he has lost his job.” BBC News