A MAN who was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog has been sentenced by a court in Cornwall. 

Ross Jan Stone, aged 40, of St Austell, appeared in front of magistrates at Bodmin Law Courts on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, on one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal for which he was responsible. 

The offences took place between June 20 and July 20, 2022, in St Austell where Stone caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a tan female lurcher-type dog called Taz, by failing to investigate and address the causes of her poor bodily condition and weight loss. 

Across the same period of time, Stone did not take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of the animal for which he was responsible, were met to the extent required by good practice in that he failed to meet her need to be maintained in an appropriate body condition.

Stone pleaded not guilty to both offences but was eventually found guilty. 

During his sentencing, Stone was made the subject of a community order under which he must be under a curfew for eight weeks with electronic monitoring. Stone must also have mental health treatment by or under the direction of We are with you for 12 sessions and take part in a rehabilitation activity for a maximum period of 10 days. 

Stone must also pay costs of £1,040 and pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £114.

The court also noted that the prosecutor's costs were to be paid from central funds to RSPCA and were assessed to be in the amount of £7,179.92.