AN East Taphouse man has been jailed for 160 days by magistrates who heard how he threw a 14- month-old puppy against a wall, breaking both its back legs. The court in Liskeard heard on Wednesday that 26- year-old Christopher John Knapman had earlier assaulted his partner, Donna Harvey after returning home from a late-night drinking session. Knapman, of Hometown, East Taphouse, admitted assaulting Miss Harvey and the offence of cruelty to the dog, which, the court heard, had to be put down as a result of its injuries. Michael Thompson, prosecuting, said that just before 1am on October 7 Knapman had left the home he shared with Miss Harvey and her two children to take his brother home. When he did not return she began to worry and made contact with him, only to be told he had been drinking and was not going to come back. Later she heard him come in and an argument developed which, said Mr Thompson, developed into 'physical action' with Miss Harvey being thrown to the floor and kicked. She managed to get up and Knapman then picked up her 14-month-old collie puppy by its collar and threw it some 25 feet out of the front door and into the road. Knapman then returned to Miss Harvey who he pushed into a chair, ripping off her top and telling her not to move, otherwise he would kill the dog. After a while she asked if she could put on some clothes as she was getting cold. After doing so she went to look for the puppy and brought it back inside. However Knapman picked it up again by its collar and threw it over his shoulders 'like a sack of potatoes'. He then threw it across the room into a wall - the puppy crawled over to Miss Harvey who could see it was injured. Knapman told her to get it out of his sight so she took it into the kitchen and put it into its bed. Knapman also went into the kitchen to make something to eat and when he returned he went over to Miss Harvey and began stroking her hair as if nothing had happened - at that point the police arrived and he was arrested. Mr Thompson told the court that Miss Harvey suffered reddening to her face, scratches and bruising. The puppy suffered broken legs and pelvis and had to undergo a number of operations. Although Miss Harvey nursed it for over a month one of its legs would not heal and it had to be put down. She was faced with bills totalling £826.61, despite having been given a 'sympathy credit' by the vet. In a Victim Impact Statement she told police the whole incident had left her feeling very upset and angry. Graham Kinchin, defending, said Knapman's two- year relationship with Miss Harvey was over, but he was anxious to be released from prison where he had been on remand, so that he could begin earning money to pay any compensation ordered by the court. Knapman was jailed for a total of 160 days and was told that although he had already served 46 days on remand, that was the result of his having earlier breached bail conditions. The question of compensation would have to be pursued by Miss Harvey through the civil courts.