Disturbing footage shows an XL bully owner beating his pet and whipping it with a metal lead.

Gareth Cox pleaded guilty in court to failing to prevent his pet XL Bully, named Cyrus, from suffering.

He admitted "hitting the dog approximately nine times with a metal lead" – a breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 – at Willesden Magistrates' Court."

In the video of the 45-year-old's brutal attack, he is also seen hoisting his dog up by its throat and can be heard saying: "Don't run off, you stupid f**king dog."

An expert dog trainer who viewed the footage said Cox's behaviour was abusive and could potentially have made the XL Bully more aggressive.

The dog has now been seized and taken into police kennels.

Cox also admitted to breaching the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 by allowing a 'fighting dog' to be in a public place without a muzzle or lead.

He will be sentenced in February.