WARNING: Some may find images in the video disturbing

A "dog lover" who was secretly filmed repeatedly punching and kicking his girlfriend's dog has escaped jail.

Lee Dyer, of Woodmansterne Road, Streatham, left neighbours horrified when their security cameras caught him beating Bullet, a three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier.

The shocking footage showed the 28-year-old pursuing the dog around his girlfriend's garden in King Henry's Drive, New Addington, before he repeatedly rained blows on the family pet.

Dyer, who also has a two-year-old dog called Angel, was due to stand trial for two counts of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, but changed his plea to guilty.

The video, filmed on September 8 and 9 last year, showed two attacks on the helpless pet.

Dyer told the RSPCA he attacked the dog because it had defecated in the house and urinated on his trousers.

Andrew Wiles, prosecuting, told Camberwell Green Magistrates Court the dog was examined by a vet and although no overt signs of injury were found, it was accepted Bullet could have suffered bruising.

He said: "The vet said the dog's behaviour was very submissive and he was 'hand shy', which is evidence of the fact the dog was exposed to trauma.

"She said the dog would have been terrified and suffered mentally."

Krystal Whyment, defending, told the court Dyer was "very ashamed and mortified" after viewing the CCTV.

She said: "He loves dogs, he loves animals on the whole. He knows dogs are vulnerable and should not suffer at the hands of their owners."

Dyer was ordered to complete 200 hours community service and ordered to pay costs of £300.

Chairman of the bench Mr Hay said as there was no evidence of abuse of Angel, he would not disqualify Dyer from keeping animals.