A man who swung a four-month old puppy by its tail in a “hammer style” has been fined by magistrates.

Christopher Broadhurst, 63, of Harrowdene Gardens, Teddington, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, at Richmond Magistrates’ Court this morning.

He picked up the labradoodle, called Wellington, by its tail and swung it around at least three times when it ran on the green at Teddington Bowls Club.

Jackie Franks, prosecuting, told the court the dog’s owner, Julia Reynolds, was out for a walk with her daughter, three-year-old Yasmin, and the dog, when it wandered onto the green while a match was being played.

She said: “The defendant picked up the dog, lifted it to waist height and swung it 360° in a circular motion. A witness described it as a ‘hammer style’ throwing motion and he did it three or four times.”

Mrs Franks said Miss Reynolds and Broadhurst shouted at each other and the defendant refused to give his details until the match, in Grove Gardens, on July 26, had finished.

“When interviewed [Broadhurst] said he had bent down to restrain the dog,” she added.

“He intended to grab the collar but missed a grabbed the tail.”

Eirug Roberts, speaking in mitigation, said Broadhurst was a man of good character with no previous convictions and he produced character references, including some from other people playing bowls that afternoon.

He said Broadhurst has suffered “distress” after the incident as he spent more than a month on bail waiting to hear if he would be charged and letters were sent to the bowls club and the English Bowling Association about him.

“My client shows great remorse for his actions,” added Mr Roberts.

“And he accepts that his behaviour was completely unacceptable.”

But Mr Roberts said the dog had not been under proper control.

“There was a game in progress, it had been going on for two-and-a-half hours and was at a crucial stage,” he said.

“This is a hugely excitable and healthy puppy and if he had been on a lead this would never have happened.

“My client did swing the dog around but he was trying to get the dog off the bowling green, no more no less.”

Broadhurst was fined £120, made up to £205 including court costs and a surcharge. Wellington was not seriously injured.

Miss Reynolds welcomed the fine and said it should stop Broadhurst from acting in the same manner again.

"It is not a big fine," she added. "But it's about making him think.

Miss Reynolds confirmed Wellington and Yasmine were both "fine".