A hunter who bragged about his dog killing a fallow deer on WhatsApp has narrowly avoided jail and been banned from owning dogs.

Mark Bond, 39, was given a suspended sentenced after being found guilty of killing a fallow deer and causing unnecessary suffering to his dog Vegas, who he used for hunting, in 2019.

The father-of-two was slammed my magistrates who told him he cannot own dogs for 10 years and that his dog Vegas, and the family's three other dogs, would be taken away from him.

Bond, of Westwood Road, Loose, Maidstone, was told he had a "total disregard" for Vegas' well-being after messages he sent a friend revealed she had two holes in her jaw after being sent underground to hunt.

The roofer – who admitted he'd been ratting and rabbiting before – said he hadn't taken Vegas to the vets but was treating her himself by cleaning the wound and giving her anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.

But magistrates' told Bond he was was not "fit and proper" to keep animals.

Defence solicitor Ms Hazelwood told the court how despite pleading not guilty to the offence of killing a fallow deer, after being found guilty he admits to the act and is remorseful.

She said: "He is sorry for what happened to the deer and admits it is a hobby which got out of hand.

"Since that day he has never engaged in the hobby."

But he was slammed by magistrates for hunting for his "own gratification", before being told: "It is clear from the evidence who and what you are."

Probation officer Andrew Wood said any custodial sentence would mean "heartbreak" for Mr Bond's young family, including both his children aged under 10.

During a two-day trial last month Maidstone Magistrates' Court were shown chilling videos of badgers and boars being attacked by dogs and stabbed.

Videos included dogs attacking a boar, a badger and a deer, with the boar letting out a high-pitch squeal as it was stabbed by an unknown person.

The court also saw a picture of Bond posing with a dead boar, which prosecutor Richard Reynolds claimed was a "trophy" image. He also claimed Bond stabbed the animal after setting three dogs on it.

But Bond denied this, saying the boar was shot on land with the permission of the owner and was different to the animal filmed being stabbed.

In October 2019, RSPCA chief inspector William Mitchell visited Bond at his home, then in Mayfair Avenue, Loose.

His five dogs were in kennels at the property while a fridge was found packed with meat and five skulls, thought to belong to deer.

A hunting knife and tools used for hunting were found in his van.

Bond gave evidence about injuries his terrier Vegas had sustained, as well as messages he sent on WhatsApp boasting about killing a deer.

He bragged his dog Vinnie killed a deer but when questioned by Mr Reynolds said the messages were just "a joke" and "banter" as friends would mock Vinnie's hunting skill.

One read: "I'm out lamping now, Vinnie just got a fallow," while in another he said he'd be "eating venison" for a week.

The former St Simon Stock student was cleared of other charges during his trial in April including stabbing a boar, and killing a badger and another deer.

He appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court yesterday while his wife sat in court, and was handed a 90 day sentence for causing unnecessary harm to a dog and a 60 day sentence for killing the fallow deer, the terms were suspended for 18 months.

He was also told to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, complete 10 rehabilitation sessions and paying £1,300 in costs and a £122 victim surcharge.