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".

BBC: Man jailed for scalding dog

Mr Obama signed off on the brief, written for the administration by Solicitor General Donald Verrilli - the man who argued the case for the Mr Obama's healthcare reform act before the Supreme Court in 2012.

BBC: Obama: Court must end California gay marriage ban