Woman abandoned animals to starve

The animals had been left to starve for several days

A Teesside woman who moved house, but left her cat and dog to starve, has received a suspended jail term.

Tina Henwood, 48, of Harrowgate Lane in Stockton, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the Labrador cross called Max and female tabby called Mitsy.

RSPCA inspectors were alerted by Henwood's previous landlord almost two weeks after she left the property.

She was given a five-month prison term suspended for two years and banned from keeping animals by magistrates.

Teesside Magistrates' Court in Middlesbrough heard how Ms Henwood told her family the dog had died and she had given the cat away when she moved to another property in Stockton last year.

'No excuse'

RSPCA inspector Christine Guy said: "This was an extremely distressing case, for both myself and the landlord of the property.

"I cannot begin to understand how anyone could have done what Miss Henwood did. I hope the sentence will prevent any further animals from suffering in future."

In mitigation, the court heard Henwood was of previous good character.

Insp Guy added: "There is no excusing what happened.

"These animals were deprived of food and water. They were confined. Scratch marks on the door of the room where the cat was show she had been trying to escape.

"It was horrendous."