Woman strangled pet dogs in bath

The court heard the dogs were found dead in the bath

A mentally-ill woman strangled two pet dogs in her bath after she heard voices telling her to do it.

Denise Clement, 37, of Portmead in Swansea admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals at the city's magistrate court.

District judge Richard Williams was told she had serious mental health problems, but was fit enough to plead.

Sentencing in the case, which was brought by the RSPCA, was adjourned until 3 February for reports.

Prosecuting, John Tarrant said on 21 July the mother of one told a mental health officer at the city's Morriston Hospital she had drowned her two cross-breed dogs Buster and Levi in a bath at her home.

"She indicated that voices told her to do it," he added.

An RSPCA officer visited the house and found the dead logs lying in the bath.

Post mortem examinations revealed they had been strangled rather than drowned.

Mr Tarrant said it was likely she had asphyxiated them while attempting to drown them.

Mark Davies, defending, said he was satisfied Clement was fit to plead to the charges, but said she suffered from serious psychiatric problems including schizophrenia.

He added: "We accept everything the prosecution say."