A Greenwich man was caught on camera throwing dogs to the ground on his balcony.

Grant Smith, 22, was filmed picking up his two small dogs by the scruff of the neck and throwing them on the floor at his home in Flintmill Cresent.

Smith, who was banned for keeping dogs for a year and was given a 12-month community order at Bexley Magistrates’ Court last Thursday, said in his defence it was "how mothers treat their puppies".

The shocking footage shows Smith "making threatening movements and shouting towards the dogs" before picking up Ruby, a Jack Russel type dog, and throwing her across the balcony.

He then goes back into the flat before grabbing Keylo, a Shar Pei type dog, and throwing him to the ground.

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Keylo

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Ruby

Smith was investigated by the RSPCA and was convicted of two offences related to his treatment of his two dogs.

He was convicted at a previous hearing of failing to meet his dogs’ need to be protected from pain suffering, injury or disease by his threatening behaviour and rough handling.

He was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Keylo through threatening behaviour and rough handling, contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.

Alongside the ban and community order he was ordered to pay £200 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

RSPCA inspector Nick Wheelhouse, who investigated the case, said: “Smith was seen coming out onto his balcony, making threatening movements and shouting towards the dogs, Smith then picked up Ruby by the scruff of the neck and threw her across the balcony.

"Smith then returned to the balcony where he grabbed Keylo by the scruff, lifted him over his shoulder and threw him to the ground.

“Smith claimed in his defence that this is how mothers treat their puppies, but his behaviour clearly went beyond the boundaries of acceptable treatment and that was reflected in the court’s decision to convict him of two offences.”

Magistrates also issued a deprivation order relating to Keylo and Ruby who will be rehomed by the RSPCA.