A TEENAGE boy committed a vicious assault on his girlfriend's puppy in a drink-fuelled attack that left the pet with a broken leg and severe head injuries.

The boy then turned on his girlfriend's sister when she intervened, grabbing her hair and smacking her head against a garage door.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was banned from owning a dog for two years by Worcester Youth Court yesterday.

Kevin Saunders, prosecuting, said the attack happened when the boy, his girlfriend and her sister were out with the six-month old Staffordshire Bull Terrier in Malvern.

He said: "During the course of an argument the boy said he would kill the dog and proceeded to beat the dog's leg against the ground. He continued by punching the dog with full force to its head."

Witnesses reported the dog was unable to walk after the attack. The girlfriend's sister told police she thought the boy was going to strangle the dog so she intervened. Mr Saunders added: "A further struggle took place. He got the girl's hair, then smacked her head against a garage door."

The dog needed hospital treatment for 10 days after being found in a "low level of consciousness" and with a broken hind leg. She made a full recovery.

The boy, who continued to plead innocence said: "The dog got hurt when someone stood on her when we were struggling."

The boy, who lives in Malvern with his grandmother and was accompanied in court by his father, had denied cruelty to an animal and assault at an earlier trial but was found guilty.

David Jackson, defending, said the boy should be ashamed. He added: "Alcohol played a part and there was a great deal of drinking among all the young people."

Magistrate Tony Elmes told the boy: "You still deny you were involved despite being found guilty in court. Clearly you did it.

"This was a very vicious assault on a dog and a young lady. You grabbed her by the ponytail and smashed her against a door."

The boy was ordered to pay £100 compensation, £100 costs and given a supervision order for 12 months, including 60 hours community work.