A man has had a 2-month jail term confirmed on appeal after being found guilty of being cruel to an animal while he was serving time behind bars.

Oglive Grima, 26, was an inmate at the Corradino Correctional Facility back in September 2012 when a friendly prison dog ended up being scalded with hot water flung at it by the accused.

It all began early in the morning of September 26 when a guard, on duty close to the ‘ambulance bay’ where the accused was being held temporarily in solitary confinement, heard the yelping of a dog.

It turned out that the friendly animal had been scalded and CCTV footage soon revealed a hand reaching out through the bars of the cell to fling liquid in the direction of the dog.

Charges were pressed against the perpetrator for having caused the animal unnecessary suffering, with a Magistrates’ Court finding the man guilty and condemning him to a 2-month jail term.

The man appealed asking for an acquittal or, alternatively, a more equitable and just sentence.

However, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Giovanni Grixti, threw out the appeal observing that although the footage had only shown the hand that threw the water, there was no doubt as to the identity of the person behind that hand.

In the course of proceedings, the accused had claimed that he had accidentally spilt warm water onto the animal while rinsing dirty dishes. He had been locked up in the cell by the Sergeant Major with no further explanation, the man argued.

A vet had certified the animal as having suffered first degree burns, the court observed, noting also that the ambulance bay was equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, including a kettle.

On the basis of all evidence produced, the court of appeal found no reason to vary the conclusion of the first court which had rejected the appellant’s version as “lacking truth.”