A former soldier who took revenge on the wrong dog after his cat was attacked walked free from court after receiving a suspended prison sentence.

James Hyland, 36, of Franklands Village, Haywards Heath, smashed his way into his elderly neighbour's home and bludgeoned to death their chihuahua with a claw hammer on the kitchen floor.

Hyland, who works as a computer technician for the Ministry of Defence, attacked the pedigree pet, called Katy, because he wrongly believed it had mauled his kitten, Boss.

But it was owner Dorothy and Ted Hunt's other dog, called Chan, which attacked the cat.

Hyland, who served his country in Basra, admitted burglary with intent to commit criminal damage and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at a hearing in November at Crawley Magistrates Court.

He appeared at Lewes Crown Court today for sentence where he was banned from keeping animals for five years.

He was given a 16-month jail sentence suspended for two years and he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Hyland was also ordered to pay £250 compensation for the cost of the dog as well as £50 compensation to his neighbours for the emotional stress the death of their pet caused them. He was ordered to pay a further £70 towards court costs.

Recorder Claire Jakens told him: "This was a sickening offence with qualities that are almost like something out of a horror film.

"I can only describe it as an act of unspeakable cruelty. You slaughtered their pet dog with repeated blows of a hammer in an act of extreme violence.

"You were bent on irrational revenge on the animal. It matters not one jot you believed the dog killed your cat. We all know animals act on instinct. Adding an even sadder twist, it was not the right dog.

"In my view it goes beyond stupid, it was violent and inhumane."

Recorder Jakens said the dog's owners can only have felt horror and distress when they found the bloody remains of their pet in the kitchen.

But she accepted Hyland, who has no previous convictions, had acted out of character.

The court heard the incident happened on the evening of September 7 when the Hunt's dog, Chan, attacked next-door neighbour Hyland's three-month-old kitten in the garden, leaving it bleeding and wounded from extensive injuries.

The couple went to bed but later heard an "almighty crash" and when Mr Hunt went downstairs he found their chihuahua-papillon cross Katy dead on the kitchen floor, battered with a claw hammer.

The back door had been kicked open and there was blood splattering the kitchen units.

Hyland had returned home and rung the police to admit what he had done.

Dianne Gordon-Bassett, prosecuting, said Hyland told officers he acted after taking his pet to the vet for emergency treatment and being told his cat may not survive the life-threatening injuries.

He described feeling so incensed when he returned home he leapt over the garden fence with his claw hammer and after kicking in the kitchen door, hit the dog about four times.

He said he killed the dog because he believed it had killed his cat.

His pet survived. The vet bills came to £350.

Lionel Blackman, defending, said Hyland and his girlfriend dote on their two kittens and he had acted in a moment of madness after Boss was attacked.

He said: "He knows his behaviour was inexcusable. The dog showed his cat little mercy as it shook it while clasped in its jaws causing horrific injuries."

Mr Blackman said when Hyland went to rescue his cat from the dog, he saw Mrs Hunt kicking her pet to try to stop it attacking the cat.

He said: "He thought his cat was as good as dead. Having been traumatised by the sight of his cat, he took the law into his own hands and broke into his neighbours' property and killed what he believed was the offending dog.

"He has done all he can to show remorse for his actions. He appreciates fully what a stupid thing he did and how distressing it must have been. He can only apologise."

Mr Blackman said after the incident Hyland moved to another part of the estate and now intends to move further away from the area.

After the hearing Hyland said: "I apologise for the distress to Mr and Mrs Hunt."