A MAN has pleaded guilty to cutting and stabbing a dog and dumping its body near his home.

Shaun Cooper, 25, of Navarre Gardens, Romford, appeared at Havering Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 after the dead terrier, called Diesel, was found by police near the River Rom at 7.27pm last Friday (September 24).

Cooper pleaded guilty to one charge of permitting unnecessary suffering or permitting that suffering to happen.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at the same court on October 18 to be sentenced.