Sheffield man snapped rabbit's neck after row with partner
A man snapped his pet rabbit's neck after his partner refused to let him into her house in what a judge described as a "horrible incident".
Alec Wilkinson, 25, from Sheffield killed the animal - called Gizmo - following a row with Louise Butterley in the early hours of 29 April.
Sheffield Magistrates' Court heard he attacked the rabbit while "very drunk".
Wilkinson was given a two-year community order after admitting the offence and separate charge of assault.
District Judge Naomi Redhouse said: "This was a horrible incident and I know that you accept that and have pleaded guilty.
"You accept that your behaviour in relation to your former partner and in relation to the animal was completely inexcusable."
She declined to make an order banning Wilkinson from keeping animals on the grounds the attack was a "very specific incident that has very much upset you".
The court heard Wilkinson had left his partner's home in Sheffield on 28 April after they argued, but returned at about 00:30 the following day.
Chantel Lowery-Green, prosecuting, said: "He was banging on the back door because she refused to let him in.
"He went to the hutch and got their pet rabbit Gizmo and took it to the back door and threatened to snap its neck.
"She thought he was bluffing, at which point he snapped the rabbit's neck."
She said Wilkinson was later found talking to the dead rabbit outside the front door.
Defence counsel Michael Willis said: "Had he not been very drunk and in drink this would probably never have happened."
Wilkinson, of Lloyd Street, Sheffield was also sentenced for assaulting Miss Butterley on 6 May when he grabbed her by the throat and slapped her face.
He was given a two-year supervision order, told to complete a "Building Better Relationships" course and fined £145.