A LOWER Gornal man who savagely stabbed a much-loved German shepherd dog to death with a six-inch kitchen knife in front of his terrified owner has been jailed for 29 months.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Simon Follos had been friends with Wayne Bird but the two men fell out and there was bad blood between them, said Mr Bernard Linnemann prosecuting.

He said Follos bumped into Mr Bird outside their homes in Abbey Street and after an argument told him "I am going to cut your dog's throat."

The row between the two men continued and when 12 year-old Tyson began to become agitated and bark Follos produced the knife.

He then stabbed the pet hard in the side before pulling out the knife and calmly walking away from the scene, Mr Linnemann told the court and Tyson died despite the efforts of vets to keep him alive.

Judge Rosalind Bush told 38 year-old Follos the bond between a pet and its owner was something extremely precious and stressed: "When an animal dies it is not just time for upset but for grief."

She said killing the popular dog on February 7, was a "terrible" thing to do and it was clear Mr Bird had been terrified by the actions of Follos as he produced the knife.

The dog was exceptionally close to Mr Bird, added the judge who concluded:"You used a weapon without warning and this dog sadly died."

The death of Tyson sparked outrage in the area and residents quickly raised more than £800 with some of the money being used to put up a plaque near when the dog was killed, which reads, "Tyson Bird - devoted, faithful and much loved companion to your loving dad Wayne. You will always be remembered by all your family and friends of Gornal."

Follos admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, criminal damage and possessing a bladed article while he was convicted by a jury after trial of a further offence of possessing a knife, resisting a police officer and common assault.

Mr Linnemann said Follos went into the Lake Discount Store in Lake Street, and, after being refused credit, he grabbed an assistant by the shoulder before kneeing him in the groin.

Follos was arrested and found to be in possession of a knife and bailed but he was picked up by police again after he had to be forcibly removed from a bus in Dudley.

Mr Timothy Talbot-Webb defending said Follos, who has previous convictions involving violence, said he bitterly regretted lashing out at the dog with the kitchen knife.

He told the court that Follos had psychiatric problems together with drug and alcohol problems and he had been "absolutely appalled" by his actions.

The judge said Follos over the years had been "something of a public nuisance" and had suffered from psychiatric illness while abusing drugs and alcohol.

When he was well he was well behaved, the judge added, but when he was unwell he posed difficulties to people and could be “frightening”.