No charge for man who dragged dog to death in Sussex
A man who fatally dragged a dog behind the back of a Porsche for more than six miles will not be charged after police concluded it was an accident.
The 33-year-old handed himself into Worthing police station in Sussex on 21 November.
His car had been seen dragging the dog at the Devil's Dyke car park near Brighton the evening before, and then later on the A27.
Det Insp Russ Sheppard described it as a "tragic accident".
The body of the dog was found in a lay-by near the Southwick Tunnel.
Police believe the man inadvertently ran over the dog's lead, which had become trapped under the car.
He was arrested and bailed on suspicion of animal cruelty, but no further action will be taken against him.
Det Insp Sheppard said: "Understandably, this sad case has attracted an enormous amount of public interest.
"The initial reports led us to believe that we were dealing with a deliberate incident of animal cruelty so it was quite right that we investigated it thoroughly and quickly appealed for witnesses.
"We have taken into account witness statements, a forensic examination of the car and a post-mortem of the dog and have also liaised with colleagues from the RSPCA.
"We are now satisfied that this was tragic accident brought about by an extremely unusual set of circumstances, whereby the man inadvertently ran over the dog's lead which became trapped under his car."