A MAN has been given a suspended sentence and banned from keeping animals after he admitted animal cruelty charges at Worcester Magistrates Court.

George Biddle, of Allens Hill, in Pinvin, Pershore, appeared in court charged with causing unnecessary suffering to seven dogs and a pony by failing to explore their weight loss; and failing to meet the welfare needs of the dogs including another springer spaniel by not providing them with a safe clean environment and a dry and clean resting area.

The court heard that the RSPCA visited Biddle in December 2012 and advised that his female lurcher was in ‘lean’ condition.

On a follow-up visit in January, the officer found the lurcher, her four puppies, a male lurcher and a terrier in very poor condition. A piebald pony belonging to Biddle was later found collapsed in a field and had to be put down because his condition was so poor.

The 69-year-old was banned from keeping animals for 10 years and his dogs were all rehomed with the local RSPCA branch, but the disqualification order was suspended to allow Biddle to sell his remaining ponies.

The court also gave Biddle three prison sentences totalling 34 weeks which were suspended for 24 months.

After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Mark Lewis said: “We had visited this defendant and given advice which is what we’d always prefer to do in cases like this, but it was clear that the advice had not been followed and the conditions were deteriorating.

“We do have sympathy for those with animals whose care they cannot cope with.

“But people need to ask us for help and try to work with us to help the animals who are so dependent on their carers.”