December 5, 2000 10:46: A stone mason who killed his dog by throwing it from the balcony of his third floor flat has been sentenced to two months in prison and banned from keeping a dog for five years.

Bromley Magistrates Court heard last month how the 13-month-old male Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Max, bled to death after the impact of hitting the ground forced its ribs into its lungs.

The black and tan coloured dog fell the 20 feet from the flat to the ground during a blazing row between Richard Henry, 30, of Lullington Road, Penge, and his partner, Lynn Cooper.

Henry claimed he threw the dog from the balcony to prove to Miss Cooper he loved his family more than the animal.

She had accused him, he said, of attaching more importance to the dog than to his loved ones.

RSPCA inspector Ian Gough said it was one of the most horrific cases he had ever dealt with.

"Mr Henry was very remorseful about what happened and now wants to put it all behind him. He was intoxicated at the time and it was his way of showing the family meant more to him than his dog."

Henry admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog at Bromley Magistrates Court and was sentenced on November 30.