A man has been disqualified from keeping dogs and chickens for a year after being convicted of an animal welfare offence.

Sonny-Joe Barney, aged 20, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a chicken by releasing dogs on it.

As reported, police investigating hare coursing were shown evidence of a dog being set on a chicken. The chicken was killed in the incident, Dorset Police’s rural crime team said.

This incident took place in a field on July 7 last year.

Barney, whose address was given as Summer Fields, Verwood, appeared before Poole Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 27, to be sentenced.

The defendant received a disqualification order for 12 months, which stated he must not transport or arrange transport, own, keep or take part in keeping dogs or chickens.

He also received a 12-month community order which included a requirement to take part in up to 20 rehabilitation activity days.