A MAN who took part in a bungled attempt to kill a racing greyhound, causing appalling injuries including cutting off the animal's ears when it was alive, has lost his appeal against a six-month prison sentence.

As 28-year-old Andrew Gough was led to the cells at Cardiff crown court a man in the public gallery shouted: "You are just sad and sick."

Earlier, people in the gallery had shouted at his counsel Kate Broadhurst "How can you defend somebody like that?"

Dismissing the appeal, Recorder Gregory Treverton-Jones, who sat with two magistrates, said: "We can't conceive of a very much worse case of animal cruelty than this."

The costs of the case brought by the RSPCA were estimated at nearly 3,000 and Gough was ordered to pay 250, as reported in later editions of yesterday's Argus.

Gough, formerly of Morrison Street, Blackwood, but who moved to Tir-y-berth Street, Hengoed, had been sentenced by Blackwood magistrates.

Richard Ace, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the greyhound, variously called Last Hope, Charlie and Rusty, had become lame and raced unsuccessfully on a number of occasions.

The trainer and owner asked Gough to destroy the animal, and he said it would cost 10 and he would use a humane killer.

Early in May Ricky Kent and a friend were walking on Capel mountain, Rhymney, when they heard a whimpering sound and found the dog badly injured.

Gough, who had the nickname "Muppet", said he had been involved in greyhound racing all his life and kept several dogs.

He denied being approached to put the dog down, and said that at the time when he was alleged to have attempted to do so he was painting a flat in Aberbargoed.

RSPCA Inspector Simon Evans said after the appeal: "This was by far the worst incident I have dealt with in terms of severity and barbarity.