Anthony Allan lashed out at the Red Nosed Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross breed every time he rowed with former girlfriend Lauren McMaster.

The attacks, which would last for as long as 15 minutes when McMaster had left the house, took place over a three-month period during their year-long relationship.

Earlier this year Allan pleaded guilty to a charge of causing the dog, which was crossed with a Bullmastiff, unnecessary suffering and undue distress.

He admitted repeatedly kicking and punching the dog at the home he shared with McMaster in Paisley between February 1 and April 30 last year.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew called for Allan to be assessed by social workers and psychiatrists and the 22-year-old returned to the dock on Tuesday to be sentenced.

Lauren McGonigal, prosecuting, told Paisley Sheriff Court: "Between January and April 2014 they lived together in Paisley.

"The dog belonged to Lauren McMaster. It was a young pup.

"Miss McMaster described that, as the arguments between her and the accused worsened, he was taking his anger out on the dog.

"He would repeatedly kick and punch the dog.

"A neighbour who lived through the wall would heard the now accused shouting at the dog and hear sounds of the dog being chased around the property.

"Between January and the end of April she could hear the dog being hit and the dog yelping in pain.

"This generally lasted 10 to 15 minutes at a time, the neighbour says, usually once Lauren McMaster had left the property.

"He would strike the dog to the body with his fists."

He was arrested after the police were called on April 27, 2014, when he behaved in a threatening and abusive way towards McMaster by shouting and swearing at her and threatening to kill himself.

When interviewed by police he admitted he'd been hitting the dog.

And when he later appeared in court he pleaded guilty to breaking Section 19(1) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 by behaving abusively.

When he appeared in court for sentencing defence solicitor Chris McKenna asked Sheriff Pettigrew to spare his client jail.

He explained: "These are serious matters and he understands that and accepts responsibility.

"He is struggling to come to terms with what he's done and is appalled at his behaviour.

"His parents had little tolerance for what was later diagnosed as mental health problems growing up and he describes his upbringing as 'a life of torture'.

"He is very fearful of custody and that is due in part to the severe anxiety he suffers from."

After hearing that Allan had two pet dogs of his own he had given away as he was expected to be banned from keeping the animals, Sheriff Pettigrew did just that.

He banned Allan from keeping pet dogs for life and spared him jail, giving him a Community Payback Order as a direct alternative to custody.

As he told Allan he will be supervised by social workers for the next two years, has 12 months to complete 270 hours' unpaid work and has to attend drug counselling to help with his cannabis addiction, the sheriff said: "You accept you repeatedly punched and kicked the dog causing it undue distress.

"Repeatedly, over a period of three months - undoubtedly the dog's life was a misery.

"It was the butt of your anger, your temper, and was utterly defenceless in terms of your repeated assaults on it.

"But I have come to the view that custody is not the only appropriate disposal today."