A dog walker filmed smashing a cockapoo against a wall has been spared jail.

Doorbell camera footage showed Luke Cobb slamming the dog against a wall at a home in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, in a fit of rage.

Magistrates in Brighton described the incident as a sadistic attack on a defenceless animal.

Despite his pleas to the court, the 38-year-old was told he will have to find a home for his own two pets after he was banned from keeping dogs for a year.

Cobb admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Prosecutor Megan Attree said police received reports on November 13 last year after video of the attack on three-and-a-half-year-old cockapoo Stanley went viral.

"The dog can be seen looking scared, walking away from him,” Ms Attree said.

"He picks it up by the neck and smashes its head against the wall.

Animal expert Jeremy Stattersfield provided a report for the RSPCA which said the incident would have caused pain, fear and unnecessary suffering to Stan. 

"It would have caused the dog not only injury but fear of injury," he said.

Cobb claimed he slammed the dog against the wall after it tried to bite him.

Ms Attree said Cobb's account was substantially different from what could be seen on the video.

"There is no bite," she said.

"The Crown submits it was a sadistic attack on a defenceless animal who was not out of control.

"There was no reason for it whatsoever.

"There was significant force.

"Twice bashing the head against the wall."

Dog owners are entitled to expect dog walkers to take care of their pets as if they were their own, Ms Attree added.

Michael Gibbs, Stan's owner, said: "Stans has never shown any signs of aggression or attempted to bite anybody.

"I was disgusted and shocked by what I saw.

"He picks him up from behind by the collar and scruff of the neck then slams his head into the wall forcefully.

"When we took his collar off him later, he winced.”

Cobb, who now works as a milkman after his dog walking business Harvey’s Walks was destroyed by the case against him, admitted his wrongdoing, telling the court: "I accept it was a breach of trust.

"It was a terrible mistake and I simply wish to make amends for what I did.

"I currently have two dogs.

"I completely understand the thinking behind a disqualification.

"I adore my dogs and I would plead you allow me to keep ownership of them.

"They are my entire heart, they are my babies."

Chairwoman Naomi Phillipson told Cobb: "You were in a position of trust and responsible for the dogs in your care.

"It was a deliberate attempt to cause suffering to that dog.

"This ill-treatment was in a commercial context as a professional dog walker."

Magistrates decided the offence was aggravated by his position as a professional dog walker and the distress caused to Stan's owner.

"We have heard the dog would have been in pain and suffering," Ms Phillipson said.

Cobb, of Ashurst Road, Brighton, was banned from owning or keeping dogs for a year.

"We are not going to send you to prison but we are going to impose a 12-month community order with ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours unpaid work," Ms Phillipson said.

He will also pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

"We do regard this as a serious offence and we make a disqualification order for dogs for 12 months, suspended for two weeks for you to find homes for the two dogs in your care,” Ms Phillipson said.

"Take this time for you to reflect on what's happened."