This is the horrifying moment a professional dog walker grabbed a spaniel by the scruff of the neck and slams him twice against a brick wall in a fit of rage.
Luke Cobb, 38, was caught on a neighbour’s doorbell camera chasing a small black dog behind his home in Brighton on Monday morning.
In the shocking footage, Mr Cobb was heard calling out the spaniel’s name – Sam – and then yanked by his collar and lifted him two feet off the ground, causing him to struggle.
The dog then wriggled free before Mr Cobb scooped him up and smashed him into the side of the house twice in quick succession before walking off.
Mr Cobb claimed spaniel tried to bite him and so he reacted by pushing the dog against a wall in a ‘moment of anger’. He was later arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty.
Luke Cobb, 38, was caught on a neighbour’s doorbell camera chasing a small black dog behind his home in Brighton on Monday morning
The dog then wriggled free before Mr Cobb scooped him up and slammed him into the side of the house twice in quick succession before walking off
A spokesman for Sussex Police said last night: ‘We are aware of a video circulating of a man harming a dog in Brighton today.
‘A 38-year-old man from Brighton has been arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
‘We are taking this matter seriously and ask the public to refrain from any speculation.’
Mr Cobb runs a successful dog sitting and walking business called Harvey’s Walks with his partner from their home.
Last night he messaged his customers on WhatsApp and said he was ‘truly, deeply sorry’ for what happened.
He said: ‘I understand by now, you have seen that there is a video of me going around social media, where I lose my temper with a dog who has bolted from me down the road, and in it, you can see that I push the dog up against the wall in anger after he tried to bite me. I have no excuse for my behaviour.
‘I lost my temper and made a terrible mistake. I’m trying to own up to this and do the right thing, but there really is nothing I can say to excuse myself.
‘I am so sorry to you all, I have let all of you down in a moment of anger. I have talked to the owner and let them know what happened, and I am truly, deeply sorry for what I did.’
It has been claimed that Cobb recently lost a dog called Doughnut, who is still missing, while out on a walk.
Writing on Instagram, the distraught owner of Doughnut said he hoped ‘justice would be served now’ after this new video came to light, but it left him ‘fearing the worst’ over what may have happened to his own pet.
He said: ‘This same guy lost my dog. Him and his partner showed no remorse and he was absolutely vile to my girlfriend.
‘The only reason we used them was because my son with additional needs had an operation.
‘Luke and his partner left my partner and son walking around the field in torrential rain and high winds whilst I was driving back from London to help with the search.
‘I tried to go legal but the solicitors said there was nothing I could do. I feel so sorry for Sam the dog but elated Luke has now been named and shamed.
In the shocking footage, Mr Cobb was heard calling out the spaniel’s name – Sam – and then yanked by his collar and lifted him two feet off the ground, causing him to struggle
Mr Cobb runs a successful dog sitting and walking business called Harvey’s Walks with his partner from their home
‘Luke was such a snidey p****, if I’d have gone round there he would have relished in calling the police on me.
‘It’s been so horrible on my family, I’m so glad he’s been caught now.’
Another former client added: ‘I’m devastated. He used to walk my dog and has or had a dog of his own called Harvey. It’s really sad thinking about what other dog he could’ve harmed, including mine and his own. It’s terrible.’
Faye Blackwell, 38, told today how she was now ‘re-thinking’ what happened to her dog Doughnut.
She booked the one year-old Border terrier in with Cobb in March this year for four days of walks as she was caring for her son who was having an operation in hospital. Her husband was working in London.
However, Cobb lost Doughnut while taking him for a walk in a local park and the dog has not been seen since.
Ms Blackwell, from Brighton, told MailOnline: ‘The way Luke behaved after Doughnut went missing was appalling. He was very angry, very defensive, very unhelpful and very threatening.
‘All we wanted was to get our dog back but he completely distanced himself from any blame. He said that he didn’t lose Doughnut rather Doughnut ran off. He blamed the dog but he was only a puppy, a very nervous one.
A police car is pictured outside Luke Cobb’s home in Brighton today
Last night Cobb messaged his customers on WhatsApp and said he was ‘truly, deeply sorry’ for what happened. Pictured: Outside Luke Cobb’s home
‘Luke wouldn’t help us look for Doughnut and after two weeks just completely cut off all contact.
‘So, when I was sent yesterday’s CCTV footage l I wasn’t the least bit surprised. Especially at the lack of empathy.
‘I couldn’t watch all of it because I found it too upsetting. But what it’s done is for me to start replaying what happened with Doughut over and over in my head.
‘What caused him to bolt and never come back? He’s microchipped but we’ve heard nothing.
‘Was there something that happened to cause him to run off? If Luke behaves like that with a Spaniel, or whatever breed of dog is in the video, then he could do serious damage to a small puppy.
‘I’ve heard him shouting at dogs so I know that he can have a very aggressive manor.
‘Myself and my husband reported Luke to police last night as we instantly recognised him from the video. He shouldn’t be allowed to continue as a dog walker. What he did was disgraceful.’
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