A Down man who killed a dog, then cooked its body and fed it to another pet, faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced next week.
The court heard that 28-year-old Dominic O'Connor had quite disturbing personal symptoms leading to a psychopathic disorder.
The following article contains details some readers may find disturbing
O'Connor, a former mental health nurse and father-of-two, from Roden Street, Kircubbin in Co Down, bought a dog on Gumtree, strangled it with a lead and stripped it of its skin.
He then "butchered" the carcass, cooked it and fed it to his other pet dog, Shadow.
The other animal has been rehomed and the judge said the social services should be informed of the O'Connor's conviction.
A lawyer for O'Connor said it was an unusual and extremely disturbing case and said his client had no memory of the incident.
The defence said O'Connor was adopted at the age of four, attended third level education and was employed as a mental health nurse.
He has previous convictions for possession of an offensive weapon and common assault.
His position "deteriorated comprehensively" in 2015 following the death of his mother and his marriage break-up, his lawyer said.
His lawyer said there was a "complex and disturbing" mental health background in this case.
A consultant psychiatrist who examined O'Connor suggested he had a disordered personality of the psychopathic type.
A prosecution lawyer said the sentence imposed should be the highest of the five-year imprisonment maximum.
The judge observed that in some cases there could be no explanation for wrongdoing.
He adjourned the case for sentencing on Wednesday 29 November.
