Simon Purchase, 34, of Glastonbury, was sentenced to two months in prison and banned from keeping animals for 10 years by magistrates in Wells.

Purchase pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering in April 2003 to his girlfriend's three-year-old black greyhound.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "We are very pleased with the result.

"This was a wicked act of deliberate cruelty and we hope the custodial sentence sends out a clear message this won't be tolerated."

The dog, George, survived but is badly scarred.

'Act of revenge'

The court heard that on the night of the incident, Purchase and his girlfriend Helen Sayer had been out drinking when they encountered one of Miss Sayer's ex-boyfriends.

An argument ensued after which Purchase went to the home he shared with Miss Sayer.

When Miss Sayer and her former partner returned, all three had another argument which ended with the ex-boyfriend leaving and Miss Sayer going to bed after making a cup of tea.

The court was told Miss Sayer then heard her dog "screaming" when Purchase poured boiling water on him in an "act of revenge".

Purchase's solicitor said the defendant loved the dog and the act had been on the spur of the moment to "hit back at his girlfriend" when he was "incandescent and agitated".

Sentencing, the magistrate said a custodial sentence was the only suitable punishment because the greyhound had suffered "severe and extensive injuries".