A MAN who callously left a dog to die behind an alleyway looks set to have his sentence changed after he claimed to be unfit to complete his unpaid work order.

Michael Murray was convicted in November 2016 of leaving a Staffordshire Bull Terrier aged between six and 10 weeks to die after failing to get the puppy treatment when he knew it to be injured.

The innocent pup was found by a passer-by who heard its squeals and took it a police station. Unfortunately, it was too late and it had to be euthanised as the injuries sustained were too severe.

Murray originally 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, 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.

The cruel 26-year-old was sentenced to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work as well as being banned from owning an animal for five years.

However, Murray’s solicitor, Kelly Howe, has claimed that her client is now unfit to carry out the remaining hours due to depression. He has handed in a certificate from a doctor which would rule him out of carrying out the hours.

Sheriff David Mackie called for an adjournment so that fresh social work reports could be filed before deciding on a new order for Murray.