From February 17, 1989 A Chessington man headbutted a motorist who accidentally ran over his pet dog outside a pub, the Surrey Comet reported 25 years ago today.

The 25-year-old found himself in court facing assault charges after his furious reaction outside the Bonesgate Pub in Moor Lane, Chessington, at about 4.20pm on June 28.

He admitted his headbutt was unprovoked, but claimed the driver of the blue Mazda pulled up after crashing into the dog, looked nonchalantly at the stricken animal, but refused to help.

The man said: “When my dog was jiggling around on the floor I was in shock as well as the dog. It was an unprovoked attack, but I couldn’t handle just looking at my dog on the floor and the bloke not taking it to the vet.”

He spat and lashed out at the driver, repeatedly attempting to headbutt him and kicking the side panels of his car.

The man admitted having had “a couple of pints” at the Bonesgate before the attack, but insisted that he was not drunk.

He said: “Cars fly down that road, but the accident wasn’t his fault. He stopped to ask if the animal was all alright, but it clearly wasn’t. This was all that he was prepared to do.”

After the Surrey Comet made an appeal for witnesses, he gave himself up. The Surrey Comet did not report the name of the dog, or if it lived.

He pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage and was ordered to pay £545 in costs by Kingston magistrates.

His victim received bruising and swelling around his right eye and was given £75 injury compensation.

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