A MAN could be jailed for killing a dog in what a veteran RSPCA inspector described as one of the worst acts of animal cruelty he had seen.

Paul Hinton, 34, from Pensbury Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty at the town's magistrates' court yesterday to one count of neglect and four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a brown cross-breed dog. A charge of torture was withdrawn.

The offences took place between March 1 and April 1 at a property in Hargreave Terrace that Hinton was intending to move into.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the animal, which had been restrained and had its mouth tied, suffered severe injuries all over its body, caused by kicking or being hit with a blunt object. It died of heart failure.

A vet said the dog would have been unable to escape Hinton's beatings because it was tied up.

As its body temperature increased, it was unable to cool itself by panting, leading to a huge strain on its heart.

Mr Campbell told magistrates: "The young police officer who called the RSPCA has since suffered horrific flashbacks."

Jonathan Harley, inmitigation, said the dog had been a stray and had bitten Hinton's youngest child twice. He said he had taken it in to keep it from roaming the streets.

Mr Harley said: "When he went to stroke it, the dog went for him.

Heknew the dog was aggressive.

"At this, he lost his temper and smacked the dog.

"He tied it up and gave it enough rope to move around, but not enough to escape."

Mr Harley said Hinton tied the dog's mouth because it had tried to bite him several times.

Magistrates adjourned the case until October 7 for a pre-sentence report.

Speaking afterwards, RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer said: "I am just glad I was first at the scene.

"Younger officers may not have been able to handle the scenes.

"It is one of the worst cases I have seen in my ten-year career."