A MAN has been jailed for repeatedly punching his dog in the head in a public park.

Robert Black, 51, from Newbury, was caught on CCTV hitting the animal five times in the town's Victoria Park.

He was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Reading Magistrates' Court and was sentenced to 23 weeks in prison. Black banned from owning pets for 10 years.

PC David Burleigh, of Thames Valley Police, said: "Black demonstrated significant cruelty to his dog by punching it several times in the face."

The force said his two pet dogs were seized when he was arrested and had since been re-homed.