- Graham Robinson, 52, was house-sitting the six-year-old dog in Southampton
- The owner installed a camera so they could keep an eye on their property
- Judge Nicholas Rowland said Robinson had committed a gross breach of trust
A dog sitter has avoided prison after being caught on camera trying to have sex with a Great Dane he was meant to be looking after.
Graham Robinson was house-sitting the six-year-old dog in Southampton while the owner and her 12-year-old daughter were on holiday.
Southampton Crown Court heard that the 52-year-old from Hythe, Hampshire was unaware they had installed a security camera so they could keep an eye on their property while they were away in May last year.
The court heard the owner’s 12-year-old daughter was watching some of the footage on a mobile phone when she saw Robinson try to penetrate the dog.
Tom Wilkins, prosecuting, said: ‘The video was left running so the owner could monitor the house.
Graham Robinson was house-sitting the six-year-old dog in Southampton last May
‘To her and her daughter’s great distress, they saw the defendant attempt to penetrate the dog.
‘It was recorded on video and it was quite plain what was happening.’
In a statement read by Mr Wilkins, the dog’s owner said she installed the camera because she had a ‘gut feeling’ that Robinson would not ‘respect’ the house.
She added that Robinson’s act had ‘completely ruined’ her daughter’s birthday, which fell during the holiday. ‘She has been left with horrifying images,’ she said.
‘The dog has been jumpy ever since the incident and always looks sad. I feel sad and angry all the time.’
Robinson pleaded guilty to one charge of attempting sexual penetration with a living animal.

A judge at Southampton Crown Court handed Robinson a two-year community order
He told the probation service he had drunk ten glasses of spirits and two beers on the day and had also used cannabis, but had not touched alcohol or taken drugs since, the court heard.
Robinson, who was not represented in court, said: ‘I’m sorry I did what I did. I can’t believe it – it’s shocking. I’m devastated.’
Judge Nicholas Rowland told the defendant he had committed a gross breach of trust.
He added: ‘You attempted to penetrate a dog that had been entrusted into your care. It was an abomination. It’s incomprehensible to behave in this way..’
After studying a pre-sentence report, the judge handed Robinson a two-year community order, including a requirement to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 40 days of rehabilitation activity.
He added that the defendant was almost sent to prison, saying it was a ‘close run thing’.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk