Dog abuse footage sparks vigilante mob

A man has appeared in court today charged with two counts of animal cruelty after footage of an alleged dog attack was posted onto Facebook – prompting a vigilante mob in Grimsby.

[Video: Dog abuse footage- may be distressing]

The video shows a man beating the white dog with poles before a woman in a bra and trousers attempts to whip it with a towel. It is later punched twice and kicked by a man who shuts it outside.

Resident Michael Currie, 23, posted the video on the social networking site at around 5pm on Tuesday, whereupon crowds gathered outside a house in Stanley Street, Grimsby – allegedly punching a man and smashing a window.

Mr Currie, who claims to have filmed it, posted the footage online so people would “report it” and “get something done”. It quickly went viral and gathered a number of incendiary comments.

Shortly after a crowd of around 50 people gathered on Stanley Street, where a man was allegedly attacked and escorted from the house by police at about 9.20pm. The dog was removed from the house ten minutes later and is being looked after by the Blue Cross animal welfare charity.“Police were called to an address on Stanley Street in Grimsby just after 8pm on Tuesday, October 18, following reports of disorder,” said a Humberside police spokesman.

“Officers attended the area quickly and took robust action, arresting a 36-year-old resident from the address in connection with alleged animal cruelty offences and removing a dog from the address.”

“An investigation is now underway into the animal cruelty and the disorder at the address. We are also keen to establish if the disorder was a direct result of something that was posted online or if those who read the information took matters into their own hands.”