Utterly depraved pet owner is banned from being alone with any dog but avoids jail

A 'depraved' man caught raping his pet labrador has been banned from being alone with a dog - but has avoided jail. 

Peter Edwards, 36, was found to have abused his dog Max and encouraged or allowed another man, Jonathan Barton, to commit bestiality with his pet.

The pair were caught when police examined Edwards' mobile and computer devices following a tip-off and found vile videos showing the abuse of the black dog.

After he was arrested Edwards expressed concern about what would happen to Max, who has since been rehomed, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

Judge Stephen Climie described the sickening acts as 'bizarre and utterly depraved' and made an order that will prevent Edwards from being alone with any dog for the next five years.

But he decided not to send him to prison as he told him because of his 'peculiarities' he was likely to suffer taunting and violence from other inmates.

Following the tip-off, an investigation was carried out and photos and videos were found on his devices which included child pornography and extreme pornography involving animals, the court heard. 

Officers then discovered some images were of sexual activity with his own dog.

Edwards, who lives in the village of South Perrott, Dorset, pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual intercourse with an animal, one count of encourage or assist with the commission of an offence as well as three counts of making indecent image of a child and three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Judge Climie gave him a three-year community order with conditions to complete up to 60 rehabilitation activity days and a three-month curfew between 8pm and 6am.

He also made a criminal behaviour order for five years that Edwards shall not own, possess or look after any dog unless whilst in the company of that dog's owner.

Judge Climie also gave him a sexual harm prevention order and told Edwards he will be placed on the sex offenders' register for five years.

He said if Edwards breached any of the orders he would be back in court and facing a starting point of 21 months in prison.