CONVICTED (2022) | Michal Kulesza, born 14 October 1976, previously of Bristol but now living in Aviemore – punched and kicked two small dogs over a two-day period of sustained abuse. The RSPCA was handed 25 video clips during which Kulesza caused Jack Russells Sonia and Rocky to yelp and scream in pain. The dogs belonged to Kulesza’s landlord, who was initially unaware of the abuse. Prosecuting for the RSPCA solicitor Lindi Meyer said: “Kulesza was not known to his landlord before this time. “However soon after he moved in it was noticed that the dogs had started to behave differently and appeared nervous around the defendant. As a result of this, the landlord installed CCTV in the kitchen and the living room and informed the defendant that he was doing so. “On March 29, he was able to download and view footage which showed Kulesza violently abusing his little dogs on a number of occasions – particularly singling out Rocky for the abuse.” The landlord contacted the RSPCA and immediately told Kulesza to pack his bags and leave. RSPCA Inspector Dan Hatfield was shown two sections of CCTV footage which “showed Kulesza repeatedly punching Rocky resulting in him yelping and screaming”. One of the clips shows the dogs in their bed in a corner, next to a fridge. Kulesza is heard raising his voice when Rocky enters and gets onto his bed. Kulesza follows, kneels in front of the dog on the bed and raises his arm with a clenched fist. Police say he then “brings it down on Rocky with considerable force four times, before changing his swing and punching the dog a further seven times while Rocky yelps with each blow he receives”. In another clip, he is filmed kicking Rocky, and in a different one again, Kulesza is seen aggressively pulling the dogs’ bed from under them. Further clips capture the dogs yelping, screaming, and being repeatedly struck by Kulesza. There is no misbehaviour on the part of the dogs shown by CCTV footage, with the violence appearing to be unprovoked. During interview, Kulesza, who pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences in court, said he was unable to explain or justify his actions, describing himself as being in a rage and state of heightened anxiety and that the dogs had done nothing to him. He later said in court he was grieving his girlfriend who had died in a car accident five years ago in his homeland. Solicitor Lindi Meyer added: “This was a particularly nasty case in which two helpless dogs were needlessly physically and mentally abused. “The physical and mental suffering the dogs were subjected was blatantly unnecessary and avoidable. “Rocky was subjected to and suffered repeatedly from acute pain and some of this would become more chronic – and the tail pull injury would have been particularly painful. “He suffered from persistent high levels of stress and anxiety due to the physical as well as the violent verbal abuse directed at him.” Sentencing | 42 weeks in jail, suspended for two years. 250 hours of unpaid work. 30 days of rehabilitation activity. £328 in costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years. Daily Record BBC News Bristol Live