Man found with bloodstained hands after killing pet dog in religious ritual

Jozef Daria appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on January 20 charged with causing unnecessary suffering of an animal.

The 36-year-old confirmed to the court that he had killed his pet dog.

Jozef Daria from Rotherham has been banned from owning or keeping animals for five years after killing his Chihuahua, called Lily.

South Yorkshire Police were called to Broom Valley Road to investigate after being notified that Daria had been seen in his garden with blood on his hands while holding a carrier bag.

Officers conducted a search on Friday, October 15 at Daria's home and garden.

A spokesman confirmed that they had "found a dead Chihuahua in a carrier bag concealed behind a bush."

“When questioned, Daria stated that he had killed the dog as part of a religious ritual he was doing that afternoon. A knife was recovered from his home that had been used to cut the dog’s neck.

“Working in partnership with the RSPCA, Rotherham neighbourhood officers ensured Daria’s other two dogs were seized for their own safety.”

Daria has been sentenced to a two-year community order, 25 days of rehabilitation, 90 days of alcohol abstinence and ordered to pay court costs of £95.