A man who got drunk, picked up a Staffordshire bull terrier dog and threw it onto the pavement has been jailed.

John Chambers had lifted up his pet, called Rocky, before throwing him to the floor in Great Yarmouth on February 19.

When RSPCA inspectors took the dog in they found he was covered with bruises.

The 29-year-old, of no fixed abode, committed the act of cruelty in the vicinity of Nelson Road North and Beaconsfield Road, Great Yarmouth magistrates heard.

Chambers pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and was sentenced to 42 days in prison on Wednesday, December 14.

RSPCA inspector Emily Bottomley, speaking after the case, said: 'We are satisfied with the sentence which reflects the severity of the offence.

'This case sends out a clear message that deliberate and callous acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated by the courts and if the RSPCA is called to investigate such incidents we will do all we can to bring the offenders before the court.'

Chambers, who is currently serving a prison sentence for an unrelated offence, was also banned from keeping animals for six years.

The incident was reported to the RSPCA and the police by concerned passers by who had witnessed it.

Rocky was then collected by the RSPCA and examined by a vet who said that he was covered in bruises.

The dog has since been signed over to the care of the RSPCA and has now been rehomed.

Chambers told the court he was drunk at the time of the offence and had no explanation as to why he carried out the attack.