A dog walker was smashed over the head with a snooker cue during a terrifying robbery in which his pet was also left bleeding.

Paul Shearer and his dog George were targeted by a father and stepson at the Lido Snooker Club in Ethelbert Terrace, Margate.

Mr Shearer had been out one of his regular walks with George and stopped off at the club to have a drink.

But while there he was confronted by Jay Montgomery and his stepson Jaydan Phipps, who started abusing him and making unfounded allegations.

Mr Shearer tried evading the pair by fleeing up the stairs to call the police but was followed, the court heard.

“Mr Shearer was then punched in the face, and smashed in the face by Mr Phipps with the pool cue,” said prosecutor John Carmichael.

“During that violence Mr Shearer in due course gave [his bank card] up, and Mr Montgomery and the young man ran away.”

Giving evidence, Mr Shearer told jurors he was hit “multiple times” with the cue and required hospital treatment.

He suffered bruising, headaches, and loss of consciousness.

“My dog also got hurt during the incident," he said.

"He was bleeding from the lip. It looked like he was kicked, and it affected him for quite a few weeks."

Mr Shearer was able to trace his stolen bank card transactions to a nearby JD Convenience Store and Margate Express, where CCTV was in operation.

“He blocked the card but a few days later he went to both of those shops and was able to see the CCTV, which clearly showed Mr Phipps and Mr Montgomery,” the prosecutor explained.

Jurors deliberated for two hours last week before convicting Montgomery, whose 44 previous convictions include offences of violence and robbery.

The dad-of-two, 43, of Selborne Road, Margate, was jailed for four years and 10 months for the 2018 attack.

The judge, recorder Simon Sterling, told the builder: “If you commit any further offences during the period of your licence you may be recalled to prison."

Mitigating, Montgomery’s barrister argued he had a “difficult and troubled childhood”, with matters “going wrong aged 15 after becoming addicted to crack cocaine” and subsequent alcohol addiction.

Phipps, 21, of Surrey Road, Margate, was convicted of robbery at the same court last year, where he was sentenced to three years in a Young Offenders’ Institute.

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