A MAN has appeared in court charged with an animal cruelty offence after a dog was allegedly left to die in a hot car.

Youssef Hanta Alhoussouni, 26 from Liverpool was arrested and subsequently charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal after officers removed a deceased dog from a vehicle in Wareham.

At the time of the incident, a spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “At around 6.10pm on Tuesday 30 July 2024, Dorset Police received a report for a member of the public concerned with the welfare of an animal in Tyneham Close in Wareham.

“It was reported that a dog was locked inside a van on a hot day.

“Officers attended the incident and forced entry to the vehicle but very sadly, the dog was pronounced dead.

“Following enquiries, Youssef Hanta Alhoussouni from Liverpool was arrested and subsequently charged with an animal cruelty offence.”

Alhoussouni is next due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates on September 26.