A WINCHESTER couple have been banned from keeping animals after admitting cruelty.

Eric and Karen Newton, of Winnall Manor Road, Winnall, pleaded guilty to a string of offences relating to the care of a cat and two dogs, Aldershot Magistrates Court heard.

They were each fined £670 and banned from keeping animals for five years.

They pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide veterinary care; failing to protect animals from pain, suffering, injury and disease; and failing to provide a suitable environment.

The city council was alerted to the Newtons after a dog-barking complaint in October last year.

Animal welfare officer Emily Bowen and principal area housing manager Rachel Moreau discovered a tabby and white cat, Bailey, with a large untreated abscess on the side of its face and fleas all over its body.

They also found a Brindle cross-breed dog called Bear and a black Labrador, called Scooby, both with chronic skin conditions causing itchiness and hair-loss over the legs and body together with red, raw sores. The property was in a terrible state of cleanliness.

The animals were seized under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and taken to a vet. Bear and Scooby’s skin conditions were treated and cleared up. But Bear had not been socialised well enough in the initial year of his life. He was extremely difficult to handle, unpredictable and aggressive and so vets decided it was best to put him to sleep.

Bailey had an operation to remove the infected flesh and stitch up the skin where the abscess had been. He recovered fully and was re-homed.

Scooby was placed into foster care until the trial, when the court made a ‘Deprivation Order’ which allowed Winchester City Council to re-home him permanently. His new owners say they are delighted.

Sharon Evans, the solicitor who dealt with the case, said: “This has been a very difficult and sad case for all involved.”

Cllr Jan Warwick, city council portfolio holder for environment, said: “Thankfully these cases are rare but this case sends an important message for all to know that we will not tolerate animal cruelty.”