A Reform UK candidate standing at the general election was once fined for animal abuse in west Dorset.

As reported, Garry Sutherland, 61, the party's candidate for Exmouth and Exeter East  was fined £2,000 fine for kicking a dog in Chideock.

He was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal animal at Weymouth magistrates court on June 27, 2023.

The incident took place on July 24, 2022 in Lanngdon Lane in the west Dorset village.

Sutherland was fined almost £2,000 and is banned from keeping animals as pets.

He was been told to pay £1,200 compensation, costs of £650 to the Crown Prosecution Service as well as a victim surcharge payment of £114 - totalling £1,964.

Sutherland, who must pay the money back by Thursday, August 31 2023, was been banned from owning a dog for a period of two years.

The 61-year-old was also been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months from his sentencing on August 3 2023.

A post shared on Sutherland's social media in March addressed his conviction which was covered on MailOnline.

He said: "A more accurate headline would be 'former bomb disposal officer saves family from dog attack.' But we mustn't let the truth get in the way of electioneering. Eh?"

The Reform UK candidate has this week came under renewed scrutiny online with posts about his conviction going viral. 

As reported by the Mirror, the social media account "Brexit Buster" posted: "Looks like convicted dog abuser and Reform UK Ltd prospective parliamentary candidate Garry Sutherland has run for cover after the exposure of his recent court case and sentencing. Fines and costs totalling nearly £2,000, banned from keeping a dog, 200 hours community service."