A man who “maliciously” beat his dog — which was later found to have a broken leg — has been found guilty of animal cruelty.

Jamie Nicholas Hudson, 44, was reported to the RSPCA by his neighbour after she saw him kicking and striking the female blue heeler, named Jingle Bells, in his Port Kennedy backyard in August 2017.

In Perth Magistrate’s Court last week, Hudson argued he was disciplining the dog when he used a small piece of garden hose to deliver three “measured” smacks.

Hudson said he had struggled to stop the dog from destroying his backyard and he had found more damage on the night in question. He claimed he accidentally kicked the animal.

But Magistrate Martin Flynn accepted the version of events Hudson’s neighbour Dawn Wilmott, who said she saw Hudson kick the dog with such force that it hit a fence.

Mr Flynn said he was satisfied the kick was “not an unwilled act”.

He found Hudson delivered a further five or six blows, including kicks, to the dog. “I’m satisfied that conduct constitutes a malicious beating,” he said.

When RSPCA inspectors went to the home the next day, they seized the limping dog and discovered it had a broken back leg.

Hudson claimed the pet could have been injured during “rough play”, that it may have twisted or got its leg stuck in a sprinkler well or that the break happened when he accidentally fell on top of the dog.

Mr Flynn said he was satisfied Hudson was responsible for the injury, but said he could not find whether the break was caused by the first kick, the repeated strikes or from “something that is unknown but nevertheless attributable to Mr Hudson”.

He said he had not ignored Hudson’s evidence that he wanted to discipline the pet, but said given the number of strikes and the dog’s reaction “the only reasonable inference is that Mr Hudson intended to inflict pain . . . more than necessary to discipline the dog”.

Prosecutors are calling for a “prohibition order”, which could see Hudson banned from owning animals, and for the dog to be forfeited to the Crown.

RSPCA WA chief inspector Amanda Swift said the organisation was pleased a conviction was handed down.

Hudson , who did not comment outside court, will be sentenced on January 25.