A DOG was swung by its lead so hard it smashed a shop window, a court heard.

Christopher Adams swung the tiny Jack Russell terrier into the window of Pindoria Newsagents in Gilnow Road, Heaton, when the dog started walking away after it had been tied to some crates outside.

It smashed into the window, breaking it. Adams, of Gilnow Road, walked off with the dog, which was unhurt.

Police arrested him a short time later on March 19, Bolton Magistrates Court heard.

Adams had been due to go on trial, but pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and causing £500-worth damage to a shop front without lawful reason.

Premvati Rabadia, the shop owner, speaking after the court case, said: “The shop was open and we heard a crash and a thud. My husband ran out of the shop and collared the man at the bottom of the steps near the shop.

“He said it wasn’t him, so we called the police and he waited until they arrived.

“We thought he had thrown a brick or a stone, but he had whacked the dog at the window. I felt so sorry for the dog. It was only small and it was shaking and whimpering.

“I gave it some water. He had tried to tie the dog to a milk crate so he could come into the shop but it started walking away. Then he picked up the lead of the dog and did that.”

Adams was sentenced by Bolton magistrates to 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Magistrates did not ban Adams from keeping pets because he does not having a history of animal cruelty.

The dog, which was a rescue dog, belongs to his girlfriend.