California man Michael David Parker sentenced to 16 months in prison for running over estranged wife’s Chihuahua

WARNING: Video features distressing content

We all know divorce battles can get ugly, but thankfully most don’t get this bad.

An LA man has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after running over his estranged wife’s dog.

Michael David Parker initially claimed the dog’s death was an accident, but eventually pleaded no contest in a bid to cut his jail time (which could have been as much as five years).

The 45-year-old from Sherman Oaks, Califoia, was charged with a felony count of animal cruelty and admitted using his car as a deadly weapon.

Shocking footage from nearby security camera shows Parker backing up his car before running 5-year-old Chihuahua Cow Cow down in an alleyway behind his estranged wife’s house.

Hawthoe Police Lt Scott Swain told the LA Times: ‘We come across weird things, strange things, gruesome things, but even to us, to see something like this is shocking.’