A CALLOUS dog owner handed the animal a “death sentence” after being found flouting a pet banning order, a court was told.

Jobless John Shepherd was seen repeatedly breaking the terms of the judgement after being spotted with a bull mastiff three times last year. A judge heard he eventually called a dog warden, tried to make out that his pet was a stray and signed an order authorising it to be put down.

Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said: “He said he had found a stray and wanted it taken away, that it bit his friend.

“He was told it would be put to sleep and he said OK. He effectively signed a death sentence.”

Shepherd, 35, of Sidcup Road, Kingstanding, admitted breaching the original five-year ban, which was imposed in 2008 after RSPCA inspectors found a starving dog at his home.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard he was first seen with the bull mastiff last July when police visited his home on an unrelated matter.