A thug who claimed he 'loved animals' was caught on CCTV kicking, stamping and spitting on a dog in a lift.

Richard Cheshire, from Oldbury, was captured giving a thumbs up to the camera with his shirt off in the brutal attack. He was brought before Birmingham Magistrates' Court following an RSPCA investigation on the attack on his bull-terrier type dog, Pablo.

Cheshire, 34, claimed yesterday in court to 'love animals' despite the 30 minutes of abuse he laid on his pet. Mr Rafe Turner, prosecuting, said:

"What you see is the dog being thrown across the floor of the landing and struck at least twice and spat at. 

"The dog keeps running away and not coming to heel, probably with good reason, while the defendant chases after it."

A short clip showed Cheshire kick his cowering dog in the head and spit on his body before leaving the lift and giving the camera a thumbs up. When he is out of the lift, the thug orders the dog to follow which he does slowly and reluctantly with his tail tucked between his legs.

The RSPCA launched an investigation after being shown CCTV footage of the incident in a communal area of Cheshire's block of flats last September. 

Cheshire pleaded guilty in court to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and was handed a lifetime ban on animal ownership. He was was also issued with a 12-month community order to perform 120 hours unpaid work and pay £385 court costs.

The 34-year-old, of Alfred Gunn House, Thompson Road, described to have been 'clearly intoxicated' yelled "I want you to know, I love animals" at magistrates as he left the courtroom.

The RSPCA have confirmed that by some miracle the dog was not seriously hurt and will be re-homed.