JASON SMART FROM CASTLETON BEATS PET DOG IN ROCHDALE STREET

In a disturbing incident captured on CCTV, Jason Smart, a man from Castleton, Rochdale, was recorded physically assaulting his four-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier named Frank in a public street. The footage, obtained and reviewed by authorities, shows Smart inflicting blows on the dog after it ran into the road, prompting concern and outrage from witnesses and animal welfare advocates alike.

The incident took place in October 2016 outside a pet shop on Manchester Road in Castleton. Shop owner Paula O’Connor was the first to notice Frank wandering alone near her store. Initially, she believed the dog was a stray, as there was no apparent owner with him. However, her attention was drawn when she heard a man shouting nearby. Turning to investigate, she saw Jason Smart emerge from the scene and begin hitting the dog twice.

Ms. O’Connor intervened, calling out to Smart, and told him, “Don’t hit the dog like that.” His response was aggressive and dismissive, as he retorted, “Shut up you stupid f***, it’s my dog, I can do what I want.” This exchange highlighted the troubling attitude Smart displayed towards his pet during the incident.

Following the incident, Smart was charged and pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Court proceedings revealed that he was “utterly devoted” to Frank, who was subsequently taken from him and rehomed to a new family. Despite this, Smart later acquired another dog, indicating ongoing interest in pet ownership.

In sentencing, the court ordered Smart to complete 150 hours of unpaid community service, pay a total of £645 in costs and charges, and issued a deprivation order for Frank. Additionally, he received a seven-month ban on keeping animals, a restriction that has since expired. The case drew attention to issues of animal cruelty and the responsibilities of pet owners in the Rochdale area.