A man has been jailed for setting fire to a family's pet dog in a savage attack that left the three-year-old border collie so badly burned her ribs and other joints were visible.

Cody had to be put down two weeks after the attack in August 2012.

Andrew Richard Stewart (23), from Aghalee in Co Antrim, was given a 20-month sentence at Belfast Crown Court after admitting the crime. He will serve 10 months in custody with the remaining 10 on licence.

Stewart has also been banned from keeping animals for 30 years.

Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland said: "This was a particularly appalling act on Stewart's part. Cody was a much-loved pet. Stewart savagely attacked her (Cody) in the most evil and vile fashion."

"It is beyond comprehension that any human being could act in such a manner towards a defenceless creature, which was posing no threat to him."

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE

Cody, pictured after the attack | Image: Mo Chara Animal Rescue

His friend Jamie Downey (23) from Craigavon, Co Armagh, was also jailed after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.

"He did nothing to alleviate the suffering of Cody knowing that she had been injured in a most grievous fashion, and then through some misguided loyalty to Stewart agreed with him to concoct what were false stories to divert police attention away from both defendants," the judge said.

Judge McFarland said he had taken into account the distress caused to the dog's owners, Natalie and Martin Agnew and their two young sons, one of whom was only six at the time.

"The parents and two young boys had a much loved pet, which was so cruelly taken from them," he said.

Stewart changed his plea to guilty minutes before Mrs Agnew and her son Jake were due to give evidence on the second day of the trial last month.