A HOMELESS man will be sentenced today after losing an appeal against his conviction for repeatedly punching his dog in the face.

Snowy Snow, of O’Hanlon House night shelter, will appear at Oxford Crown Court this morning to learn his fate for committing animal cruelty and being drunk and disorderly.

On Friday he lost his challenge to the convictions he received in October, when he was found guilty by Oxford magistrates of both charges following an incident in St Aldates, Oxford, on April 27.

Hugh Williams, prosecuting, said an off-duty police officer had witnessed Snow dragging his black mastiff-dogo cross, named Spot, by the collar across the pavement.

He told the court that Sergeant Matthew Sulley watched the 65-year-old then punch the dog in the face four times and strike the back of its head.

Sgt Sulley testified at Friday’s hearing that the animal was “terrified” and let out a “yelp” sound every time it was hit by its owner.

He reported approaching Snow and telling him to stop, before going to St Aldates police station to find a colleague in uniform.

Pc Sulley said: “The dog was already pressed into the ground and it looked very scared. When he hit it, the dog yelped.”

David Wales, defending, asked the officer how much force would be justified if a dog was being disobedient.

Pc Sulley replied: “I think animals should be treated with respect.

“If it was my dog I would use its name and treat it normally.”

Snow was described as also entering the police station and becoming abusive when the officers took him into custody.

Giving evidence himself, Snow told the court he had only had two cans of Tennent’s Super lager, was not drunk and had not struck his dog.

He said: “That dog has never been abused – he whelps and cowers all the time, just for attention.”

But Judge Patrick Eccles and two magistrates dismissed the appeal, with the judge describing Sgt Sulley as a “credible witness”.

He added: “This behaviour may be out of character and the dog may be treated well by Mr Snow in the usual course of life. On this occasion he was just not able to be patient.”

Spot is currently being looked after at the Noah’s Ark animal shelter and its future will be decided when Snow is sentenced.