A thug who abused his former partner then sunk his teeth into the ear of a pursing police dog has now admitted breaking its jaw with a metal pole.
Jamie O'Neill was on the run from an address in Kilwinning on March 26 before he threw a brick at a window of a neighbouring property.
The 33-year-old was traced to Nethermains Industrial Estate where police dog handler Paul O’Donnell attended and deployed PD Remo to apprehend the thug.
O'Neill grabbed a metal pole and repeatedly battered the dog on the head.
He then hunched down and bit into Remo's ear causing a hole in his lobe.
PC O'Donnell was then struck in the face by O'Neill with the same pole before he was arrested.
During a journey to Crosshouse Hospital, near Kilmarnock , the thug continued to struggle violently in the back of the vehicle, forcing officers to stop and restrain him.
On arrival at the hospital he then verbally abused staff before spitting in the face of a nurse.
He also continued to make threats towards his ex-partner and said he would “petrol bomb” her house.
Procurator fiscal depute Ruaraidh Ferguson told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court: “The constable suffered a cut to the left ear and also to the right cheek.
“The dog was seriously injured and required stitches to close the injury in the ear which was caused by the accused biting it.
“Also, as a result of being struck by the pole, the dog lost one of its full canine teeth and suffered a fractured jaw.”
O’Neill’s defence solicitor told the court his client had very little recollection of the events having taken a “lethal cocktail” of Valium which did not mix well with his ADHD and depression.
He added that his client was “utterly ashamed” of his behaviour towards his ex-partner, the police and the dog.
O’Neill, a prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock, pled guilty to nine charges including two police assaults, causing unnecessary suffering to the dog and culpable and reckless conduct on Monday.
Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane deferred sentence for background reports until next month and O’Neill was remanded in custody.
PD Remo, a belgian malinois/dutch herder cross, suffered a broken tooth and underwent root canal surgery before a titanium crown was fitted.
He has recovered and has since returned to duty.
