A man who had his dog's ears cruelly and illegally mutilated so that the animal would 'look more intimidating' has been spared prison.
Simon Broscombe had his six month old pet's floppy ears cut back to short points so he would look more tough.
In the first case of its type in the UK, the RSPCA prosecuted Broscombe over his barbaric move in Blackpool, Lancashire.
He paid £2,000 for the puppy, which came into the country from Holland.
He bought the dog described as his pride and joy a £3,000 gold neck collar but admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the American Bully dog named Tyson.
He also admitted permitting another person to carry out a prohibited procedure on the pup.
District Judge Jane Goodwin, sitting at Blackpool Magistrates Court, heard that dogs' ears can only be cropped for medical reasons and the cutting done by a qualified vet.
When hairdresser Broscombe was confronted by RSPCA officer Amy McIntosh at his home she says he grabbed his phone and she believed she was trying to delete WhatsApp pictures from it.
However the investigators did trace messages from Broscombe with one stating: "With big floppy ears. He not the kind of dog I want."
RSPCA prosecutor Paul Ridehalgh told the court: "This dog is a cross between an American pit bull and American staffie.
"The investigators found pictures of Tyson with his ears intact and the defendant knew that ear cropping in the UK is illegal."
Trevor Colebourne, defending, told the judge: "My client bought the dog via a breeder thinking it had had his ears cropped in Holland before being brought into the UK.
"He would not name the person who carried out the procedure as he had been given a threat to keep his mouth shut and not be a grass."
Sentencing Broscombe, the judge told him: "Despite your claim to be a responsible animal lover you became involved in a seedy operation which was a deliberate attempt to cause suffering.
"You will not name the vet you claim was involved and this dog will have suffered for up to five days."
Broscombe was banned from keeping or being involved in the keeping of any animal for seven years.
He was given a 12 week jail term suspended for 18 months.
He must also do 200 hours unpaid work for the community and must pay £715 court costs.
