THE man initially accused of stomping a puppy to death in Alloa pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in court last week.

Michael Murray was arrested after the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was left to die in the dirt behind a takeaway in Maple Court.

On November 26 last year a member of the public heard the pup's squeals and found it severely-injured and unable to walk.

He took it to Alloa Police Station and officers sent for a vet. However, the damage to pup's legs and back were too severe and it had to be put down.

Staff with the Scottish SPCA worked alongside Police Scotland to investigate the circumstances which led to the young pup sustaining those injuries.

The Advertiser understands the animal, aged between 6-10 weeks, had endured broken hind legs and a broken back.

In December, Murray appeared in court charged with causing the dog "unnecessary suffering" by stamping on it and kicking it on the body, thus requiring it to be euthanised.

However, at Alloa Sheriff Court last Monday, the 26-year-old pleaded guilty to an amended charge, which removes any reference to him stomping on the puppy.

The charge, which was accepted by prosecutors, now reads that he caused unnecessary suffering to the animal and did "fail to afford said dog medical treatment" when he knew it to be injured, and in circumstances that required the pup to be euthanised.

Sheriff William Wood asked for background reports to be carried out before sentencing the accused.

Murray, from Maple Court in Alloa, will be interviewed by social workers and the case will be brought back to court in late April.

While the offence has changed, the sentencing powers of the sheriff remains the same.

According to provisions in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, a person who commits an offence under section 19 is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding £20,000 or to both.