A Carlisle man who dragged and kicked a dog, launching it into the air, has been banned from keeping animals for five years and given a suspended prison sentence.
Alan Crilley, 45, was caught on doorbell video footage while walking with the silver French bulldog on Parham Drive in the city on April 12 2025.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard today how Crilley had sat down with the dog — which was on a lead — and proceeded to shout at it.
He walked off with the animal — which was not his — and then kicked it twice before dragging it along a pavement.
“The dog is kicked with such extreme force that it is launched into the air, and lands on its back,” said prosecutor George Shelley.
As the dog took off, Crilley ran after it. The incident was reported to police and CCTV footage was disclosed.
“Police attended the following day, following these reports, and arrested Mr Crilley,” said Mr Shelley.
Crilley, of Hawthorn Grove, Carlisle, initially denied a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, before changing that plea to guilty on the day he was due to stand trial. The dog is not believed to have been injured.
Magistrates heard Crilley had 50 previous convictions for 92 offences. He was last in court during 2022 when he was handed a 24-month jail term for affray.
Defence solicitor Adele Graham, mitigating, said Crilley had not been in any other trouble since that year.
Mental health issues and alcohol misuse were contributing factors to his crime last April, for which he was remorseful.
“He feels embarrassed to be before the court today for such an offence,” said Miss Graham. “He finds it hard himself to look at that CCTV.”
No animals were in Crilley’s care at present, the court heard.
“This was an isolated incident,” added the solicitor. “Mr Crilley is a changed person. He has started to demonstrate some stability and lifestyle changes.”
Magistrates suspended a 10-week jail term for a year. Crilley must complete a 10-week electronically monitored night time curfew and pay court costs. He was also disqualified from owning or keeping animals for five years.
