Man jailed for 18 months for beating neighbour's dog to death

A South Australian man who beat his neighbour's dog to death is behind bars.

Steven Leffanue, 57, was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 months for killing the pet.

Leffanue admitted to breaking into his neighbour's yard in the town of Hayborough and stealing their dog named Pup in November last year.

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It was five days before the Mastiff cross Ridgeback was found with horrific injuries.

Seven months on, Pup's heartbroken owners said they finally have justice.

"I didn't expect any jail time so it definitely feels like justice," Aimee Sherwin said.

At the time, Leffanue had undiagnosed autism with sensitive hearing.

The court heard the dog's barking had irritated him to the point he had an emotional meltdown.

While the magistrate accepted Leffanue's remorse, she said the gravity of his offending was at the highest end of the scale and jail was the only appropriate punishment.

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Leffanue didn't react as he was led from the courtroom to begin his sentence.

The magistrate has forbidden him from owning any animals in the future.

"If he can do that to a beautiful family member then he doesn't have any rights to be near any animals," Sherwin said.

It will be at least seven months until he can apply for release.