A London man who caused unnecessary suffering to his Bully-type puppy after kicking and stamping on him in a violent attack caught on CCTV has been banned from owning animals for eight years, following an RSPCA prosecution.
Rashid Chin-King (DOB 28/3/2001) was caught on camera attacking little Ice on 22 February last year, outside an address in Chingford.
Distressing CCTV footage showed him delivering three forceful kicks to Ice’s head, before placing his foot on the young dog’s skull and pressing it into the ground. Ice can be seen cowering against a fence, clearly terrified.
RSPCA Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad, who investigated the case, worked alongside the Metropolitan Police after a member of the public handed in the CCTV footage.
Officers attended Chin-King’s home on 26 March and removed Ice for veterinary assessment, before he was taken into RSPCA care.
In her statement to the court, Shahnaz said: “The footage showed the dog being kicked three times in the face in a seemingly unprovoked attack, before the defendant placed his foot on the dog’s head, forcing it down to the ground.
“The dog was cowering and clearly frightened – there was a fence directly behind him and he was on a lead, so unable to get away. Although the footage had no sound, the dog’s mouth was open as if he was crying out or yelping.”
A veterinary surgeon who examined Ice confirmed that while he did not sustain lasting physical injuries, he suffered significant pain, fear, and psychological distress during the attack. The vet explained that the force used would have been painful and that Ice’s body language showed clear fear and emotional trauma.
The vet added: “The assault will have caused suffering – Ice’s body language [in the footage] clearly shows fear and distress, and the kicks and attempt to stand on his head will have been painful. The person kicking clearly knew, or ought to have known, that this was the case.
“The duration of this suffering was potentially short – the video only lasts 10 seconds and no obvious wounds or injuries can be seen. There is potential that this was an isolated incident, however this seems unlikely due to the dog’s body language when walking into the shot.
“The fear and confusion he would have felt during this attack would have been profound.”
Chin-King pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, contrary to section four of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. On 10 November at Snaresbrook Crown Court he received an eight-year ban on owning animals, as well as a 12-month community order, 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, a one-month curfew (between 10pm – 6am) and a £500 fine.
The judge described the CCTV footage as “appalling”, stating that Ice had been left “terrified” by the attack.
In mitigation, the court was told that Chin-King had a difficult upbringing, struggled with personal issues and had since started making changes in his life. The judge accepted some mitigation but remained critical of the violence used, noting: “No lover of animals behaves in the way you did.”
Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad said: “This was a shocking incident involving a very young puppy who had no way to escape. Ice was completely vulnerable and clearly terrified as the attack unfolded. We are extremely grateful to the member of the public who came forward with the footage. Violence towards animals is never acceptable.”
Anyone who is struggling to care for their pet is urged to seek help. Animal welfare charities, including the RSPCA, can offer guidance and support to prevent situations from reaching crisis point.
