A man who stamped on a puppy’s leg and caused injuries so severe that the limb had to be amputated has been banned from keeping animals for life.

Members of the public said they were physically sick after hearing the 16-week-old tan and white bull terrier puppy, called Bonzo, “scream in pain”, the RSPCA said.

At Chichester Magistrates’ Court earlier this month Barry King, 33, previously of Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Bonzo by failing to provide the puppy with prompt veterinary treatment for his broken back leg.

As well as being banned from keeping animals he was ordered to pay £1,000 costs and jailed for six weeks, suspended for 12 months.

The court ruled Bonzo’s injuries were not as the result of an accident, as King had initially alleged.

An RSPCA statement, released following the hearing, said: “The RSPCA were called to help last January after a member of the public heard a man shouting and a puppy scream in pain.

“We arrived at the address and found the puppy with a badly injured leg.

“We took him to a vet who found the limb was so badly broken that it had to be amputated.

“The injury was consistent with a heavy weight pressing down on him.”

Inspector Andrew Kirby added: “We are pleased King has been disqualified from keeping animals to protect the welfare of any others which may have fallen into his care.

“This poor puppy must have been in an incredible amount of pain as the vet found the limb was completely snapped at one end and there was no choice but to amputate.

“A member of the public said she was physically sick after hearing Bonzo screaming in absolute agony after the incident.

“We are pleased to say there has now been a happy ending for Bonzo, who was taken into RSPCA care and has now been re-homed.

“I am told he is surviving well on his three legs and leading a full, much happier life.”