Lodger caught on CCTV brutally attacking landlord’s dogs

A lodger was caught beating two dogs belonging to his landlord on CCTV - and has now been banned from owning animals for ten years after pleading guilty to two offences at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.

Michal Kulesza, 46, now of Aviemore in Scotland, can be seen aggressivley attacking the Jack Russels - three-year-old Rocky, and seven-year-old Sonia - while they sit in a corner of the kitchen.

Kulesza was caught after his landlord descided to install a secret camera after he noticed the two dogs appeared to be scared of the man. In total, 25 clips were handed over to the RSPCA for the case.

Appearing at court, Kulesza was unable to explain or justify his actions, describing himself as being in a rage and state of heightened anxiety. He was sentenced to a total of 42 weeks in custody, suspended for two years, and disqualified from keeping animals for ten years

RSPCA solicitor Lindi Meyer, who represented the animal welfare charity in court, said: “Kulesza was not known to his landlord before this time. However soon after he moved in it was noticed that the dogs had started to behave differently and appeared nervous around the defendant.

“As a result of this, the landlord installed CCTV in the kitchen and the living room and informed the defendant that he was doing so.

“On 29March he was able to download and view footage which showed Kulesza violently abusing his little dogs on a number of occasions – particularly singling out Rocky for the abuse.”

In one of the clips, the dogs are in their bed in a corner to the left of a large fridge. Kulesza can be heard shouting and Rocky comes in and gets on the bed. Kulesza enters, kneels in front of the dog on the bed and raises his arm with a clenched fist. He then brings it down on Rocky with considerable force four times, before changing his swing and punching the dog a further seven times while Rocky yelps with each blow he receives.

In another clip, he can be seen aggressively pulling the dogs’ bed from under them, while in another he is filmed kicking Rocky. Additional clips capture the dogs’ yelping, screaming, and being repeatedly struck by Kulesza.

In none of the clips are the dogs misbehaving in any way and the violence is unprovoked.

In court, Kulesza said he was grieving his girlfriend who had died in a car accident five years ago in his homeland.

Solicitor Lindi Meyer added: “This was a particularly nasty case in which two helpless dogs were needlessly physically and mentally abused. The physical and mental suffering the dogs were subjected was blatantly unnecessary and avoidable.”

As well as the suspended sentence Kulesza was also ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days and must pay £200 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.